The marriage relationship was created by God to be patterned after and a reflection of Jesus’ relationship with His Church. We practically love our spouse like Jesus first loved us through mutual submission. Mutual submission asks the question, “What can I do for you?”

Loving our spouse like Jesus first loved us is the hardest thing we'll ever do, but we must because God's bigger picture and purpose for marriage is at stake—that is, for the world to know His love.

Jesus loves his Church so much that he sacrificed himself for us. God designed the marriage relationship for us to know that type of love, and reflect that type of love in the world. That is our purpose, but living out your purpose as ONE doesn’t happen when you say “I do”. It takes a lifelong commitment to live out the same love Jesus first gave us with one another.

Love means sacrificing all of me (what I want, how I feel like, what’s best for me, what I need), for all of you (what you need, what’s best for you). Loving like this will take a thousand small choices every day to lay down your life and give up all of me for all of you.

Marriage is essential for us to know and experience the love of Jesus and to reflect the love of Jesus in the world. Marriage is the hardest thing you'll ever do, because loving like Jesus is the hardest thing you'll ever do, and because Hell is set against it. Satan is attacking marriage and trying to thwart God's purposes in this world.

True love in marriage is going to cost you everything - just look at the cross - but it is worth it. By the grace of God, you can love like Jesus. Remind yourself of this truth every day: “It can be done…IT IS WORTH IT!”

Stand firm and never quit! Daily keep asking your spouse “What can I do for you?”

John 13:35 "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Pastor Ronnie