Keeping the marital passion and love alive is hard work because it requires giving of yourself all the time, with the possibility of receiving very little in return. This never-ending love is not a type of perpetual motion, but rather something that must be fueled again and again, and very frequently.
Love is never-ending because it’s persistent
Our notion of love is really emotional. We fall in love and we fall out of love. Sometimes we feel it sometimes we don’t. Yet, the Bible’s description of love is more of an intentional decision than that of a passing feeling.
The fuel of love is respect and cherishing.
Respect is valuing of the person for who they are. Cherishing is placing a great worth upon the person, even more than what others see as their perceived worth. As a couple fuels love with respect and cherishing, it becomes never-ending.
Art requires inspiration to continue
- Read Ephesians 5:21-33. This is a key passage for understanding the marriage relationship. What do you think of when it comes to submission? What if you replaced the word submission with serve?
- Read 1 Peter 3:1-8. We know Peter was married because Jesus healed his mother-in-law. He calls for wives to “accept the authority,” how is this respect? When he says a wife is weaker and equal recipient of God’s grace, how does that make you feel? How can this lead to cherishing?
- Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-6. What about this description of love seems emotional? What seems to be a conscious choice by the lover? How can this be applied in a marriage?
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