There’s so many emotions we feel on the day we get married! But as we….and you and your spouse may have experienced, those incredible feelings of being ‘in love’ that you had on your wedding day, don’t usually last year after year. That feeling of ‘being in love’ alone cannot sustain you on your journey of marriage. There is something beyond a feeling that we must have, if we are going to grow and live out marriage as God has designed it. With this episode, we continue our two part podcast entitled “Do You REALLY Love Your Spouse?”. In these two episodes we will explore with you what Christ-like love is, and also some ways to practically walk that Christ-like love out in your marriage relationship. Thanks for joining us for today's episode on this journey of marriage!

Feedback/Contact Us: If you would like to share feedback on our podcast or suggestions for future episodes, please send us an email at podcast@AbidingMarriage.org Thanks in advance for doing that for us!!

Episode/Show Notes:Link to 3-Page Diagram on Rights vs. Responsibilities: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pwOMCNzXv9wRwA2EM_jTLyqHZjsBO1Tr/view?usp=sharing

Summary of 5 Practical Steps Shared:

FIRST: Self-sacrificial, Christ-like love repents of SIN and SELFISHNESS. So the first step to real, lasting change for a Christ-follower is always REPENTANCE and CONFESSION.

SECOND: Real, self-sacrificial Christ-like love shows up in the mundane, everyday details of your life as a married couple. Ask God to help you see everyday opportunities to show this self-sacrificial, Christ-like love to your spouse - and then TAKE ACTION when He shows you those opportunities.

THIRD: Resist the urge to focus on your “rights”. Instead, with God’s help, commit to fulfilling your responsibilities to your spouse. YIELDING your RIGHT or EXPECTATION, and FOCUSING more on your responsibility, is an act of loving self-sacrifice. This is an incredible way to DEMONSTRATE CHRIST-LIKE love to the spouse God has given you.

FOURTH: Self-sacrificial, Christ-like love ACTS BEFORE IT FEELS! Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of Grace that He demonstrated, are to be our model in how we love our spouse, ESPECIALLY in times when we least feel like it.

FIFTH: Self-sacrificial, Christ-like love DOES NOT KEEP SCORE. Self-sacrificial, Christ-like love does not give with an EXPECTATION of getting anything in return.

And since we know it might be overwhelming for you to think about ALL FIVE of those, we suggest picking ONE that God would want you to focus on now - understanding that you will desperately need His help in order to grow in any of these areas - but know that He wants you to grow and wants to help you through it!

Online Posts to Help:

Marriage Missions Post: https://marriagemissions.com/marriage-covenant-commitment/

Got Questions: How do we love like Jesus?: https://www.gotquestions.org/love-like-Jesus.html

Proverbs 31: https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2018/12/28/the-danger-of-keeping-score

Desiring God - What Makes Christ-like Love Different?

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-makes-christian-love-different

Focus on the Family: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/sacrificial-love/

Podcast Music: Moving to Places New by Big Score Audio