Topic: Love & Marriage (1)
Dear Reader,
I welcome you to a month of great testimonies and liftings. It is my earnest prayer that the remaining days in this year brings you joy and greater exploits. This month, I shall be discussing extensively on the topic: Love and Marriage.
As a way of introduction, I would start by defining love. The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines love as warm liking or affection. It is also described as affectionate devotion. Love is a major requirement for success in marriage. It is one of the ingredients required in building and transforming your house into a home. As someone rightly said, “Love is what makes a house a home.”
The kind of love I am referring to is not as the world professes, which is, “If you love me I will love you in return.” This kind of love is divine. It is from the Greek word “AGAPE,” which is unconditional. It is the kind of love that says, “In spite of your faults and shortcomings, I love you all the same.”
The Bible says: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Just as God did not wait for us to be perfect before sending His Son to die for us, we are not to lay down conditions for our spouse, children, friends and neighbours before we love them.
Agape is the love God pours in your heart by the Holy Ghost, when you get born again (Romans 5:5). In a world where every man seems to be seeking only his own welfare, marriages disintegrate like a pack of cards, children are neglected and abused in various ways. The need for God’s love cannot be overemphasized as everyone needs it. The Lord proved that this is a healthy desire when He asked: Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? (John 21:15).
Love is never a magical or mysterious emotion that two people fall into or out of, for no apparent reason. The truth is: loving relationships must be nurtured. Love is care and consideration directed towards another person, not just an ethereal emotion.
The work involved in building and preserving marital bonds, is well worth the time and effort. Husbands and wives, who are committed to this positive process, often describe their mates as their best friends. This is simply another way of describing the kind of bond God desires for every marriage.
Husband and wife must learn to work together in marriage, showing respect and love to each other. Such an approach follows the biblical principles of wives submitting to their husbands and husbands loving and honouring their wives (Ephesians 5:22/25; 1 Peter 3:1/7). Establishing family in an atmosphere of love and respect, gives the newly married a foundation upon which to build their lives together.
It is my prayer that as you open your heart to receive and act on God’s Word concerning your marriage, today, you will experience a positive transformation in Jesus’ mighty name!
Understanding the place of love in marriage begins with having a personal relationship with God, the Originator of marriage. Do you wish to invite Him into your marriage? You need to be born again! This is done by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour of your life. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.
Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.