In 2013, John and Ann Betar became the oldest known American married couple as they celebrated their 81st wedding anniversary. Their advice on staying happily married includes the following: “Don’t hold a grudge. Forgive each other. Live accordingly,” John advises. And Ann adds, “It is unconditional love and understanding. We have had that. We consider it a blessing.”
The longing in any marriage is in knowing that the affection of your spouse is directed solely toward you. The Song of Songs captures this active commitment with two lovers delighting in and yearning for each other (Song of Songs 1:15-16, Song of Songs 3:1-3). They love and are loved in return (Song of Songs 2:16, Song of Songs 7:10) and are satisfied and content in each other’s company (Song of Songs 2:16, Song of Songs 4:9-11, Song of Songs 7:10). Surely this can be one of life’s greatest joys.
The earthly love between husband and wife, however, is an echo of the passionate love and fervent pursuit of Jesus for those who believe in Him—His bride. The powerful and deceptive lure of sin forced a chasm between God and man, turning our affections away from our first love and focusing our attention on the temporary things of this world—resulting in emptiness, death, and destruction (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23).
But herein lies the greatest love story: “This is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). And, “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8).
While it’s beautiful to see the love a man and woman can share for decades, it pales compared to the amazing love God extends to us for eternity. That’s the greatest love story!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Judges 7:1-25
More:
Read Romans 5:1-2 and consider how the broken relationship between God and us has been restored through Jesus.
Next:
What marks a truly loving and beautiful marriage? How is God’s love for us even more beautiful?
gagirllive on March 9, 2016 at 7:26 am
Ruth, I have a confession to make. I’m a hopeless romantic. I like good love songs, candlelight dinners, and yes, I’m a sucker for those predictable, sappy hallmark movies. But you’re so right…the shadows of love we experience down here don’t come close to the reality of what we have in Christ. He is my true Husband…the lover of my soul. God’s redemptive story is absolutely THE greatest love story ever! Thanks for this refreshing reminder today, Ruth.
Ruth O'reilly-smith on March 10, 2016 at 1:10 am
My folks have been married for over forty years and the other day I noticed how they still hold hands when they sit together – they’re still very much in love and seem to grow more in love as the years go by. As a young man, my father went to the church youth group because he heard there were beautiful girls who went there. That’s where he spotted my mom and so began his journey to know God as his Heavenly Father and Lindsay as his wife. I’ve had the joy of seeing my earthly father grow in his love for and acceptance and love from his Heavenly Father – something that’s inspired me to pursue a relationship with my Lord and Savior and lover of my soul – Jesus.
sandy229 on March 9, 2016 at 11:54 am
I am a hopeless romantic also!! My husband spoils me very much, I can see how much he loves me every time I look into his eyes. I only hope that some day he will see the love I have for Christ who gave up His life for me…..a creature of dust!! He came down from Heaven to save all of these creatures of dust because He loved us so much and still loves us and forever will love us. I just want this for my husband who I love dearly!! I pray for him every day that he will he will accept the fact that Jesus died for everyone. It’s so hard for him to accept this, and I don’t even know what to say to him sometimes. All I can do is pray for him that God will show him that He is real and reveal Himself to him. Everyone who reads this, please pray for him. I will never give up hope.
jim spillane on March 9, 2016 at 12:13 pm
sandy229 – I have accepted your prayer request and will lift your situation up to the Lord. Stay strong in Christ!
gagirllive on March 9, 2016 at 2:02 pm
Amen, Sandy! Be a prisoner of hope in believing God for your husband’s salvation. I join my prayers to yours, my friend!
Ruth O'reilly-smith on March 10, 2016 at 1:23 am
Dearest Sandy229 I’m praying for you and your husband – that God will daily give you the words to pray. I also pray that the Holy Spirit will guide and lead you in all your words and actions towards your husband, that he would see Christ in you and receive the generous gift of salvation for himself. My aunt prayed for her husband for many years before he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. It was wonderful to see the transformation in his life and in their love – keep praying, keep hoping and keep believing – we’re believing with you and praying for you.
sandy229 on March 10, 2016 at 10:29 am
Thank you everyone. It is such a blessing to know that others are praying for his salvation also.
jim spillane on March 9, 2016 at 12:08 pm
Ruth – I can certainly understand God’s eternal love for us, but my question is when He plainly states that He will never leave you or forsake you, does that extend beyond the Final Judgment? He is always by our side in this earthly life to provide, protect, heal, forgive, etc. and will never give up on us or abandon us. But when each of us stands before Him and we are either rewarded or condemned based on whether we are with Him or against Him, what would be the point of continuing to be with those who have made their choice for hell? I can understand Him still loving them, but what’s the point of staying by their side when there’s now no chance that they can ever be redeemed? Love remains but His protection is now gone. Thanx in advance, for your help in this.
gagirllive on March 9, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Jim, I know you want Ruth’s response, but I cant help but insert my voice here. That promise is to us… the redeemed, not the unsaved. The unsaved, of course, now experience God’s common grace, but they are not privy to any of the promises of God that we have in Christ Jesus. Those who are lost, who stand before Him at the final Great Throne judgement will be separated from God and cast from the presence of the LORD for eternity. We, the redeemed, have many promises to praise God for, don’t we? We have been given so much!!
Ruth O'reilly-smith on March 10, 2016 at 2:30 am
Thanks for your question Jim, I agree with gagirllive’s response. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 reads “And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.” Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). He also said, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” (Revelation 3:20). God doesn’t force us to follow Him or make him Lord and Savior of our lives – we have a choice to make, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). The choice is ours – The Lord will never leave, nor forsake those who have chosen to follow Him and make Him Lord. Those who have turned away from God and willfully followed their own desires, are separated from the presence of God. God is however, gracious and merciful and patient with us – He keeps pursuing us and longing for us to turn to Him, open the door to our hearts and welcome Him to rule and reign in our lives.