Monthly Messages from Sally Weiesnbach, Ark Founder & Director of Operations
Temptation lurks around every corner these days. Maintaining faithful relationships can seem like an uphill battle. This year, we’re discussing how, as followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard of love and commitment. Jesus’ command to love one another as He loves us (John 13:34) provides the key to keeping Moses’ commandment, “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14) By embracing Christ’s divine love, we are empowered to cultivate healthy relationships, honor our commitments, and maintain the sanctity of marriage.
Jesus calls us to love unconditionally. In Matthew 22:37-39, He emphasizes that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and our neighbor as ourselves. When we wholeheartedly embrace His love, it transforms the way we see things and helps us view others as God’s beloved children. That inspires us to treat others with respect. “Others” includes our spouse.
Adultery often arises from lack of emotional fulfillment in relationships. But loving one another as Jesus loves us, motivates us to invest time and effort in building deep emotional connections with our partner. Ephesians 5:25 reminds husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church, sacrificially and unconditionally. Doing that fosters trust, vulnerability, and emotional intimacy. It strengthens the bond between spouses, guarding against the temptation of seeking emotional fulfillment elsewhere.
Commitment is the cornerstone of healthy marriages. Jesus’ love for us is fully committed, unwavering, and steadfast. Our commitment to our spouse should reflect that same divine love. Hebrews 13:4 affirms marriage as sacred, saying we should honor the marriage bed and keep it pure. Loving as Christ loves us, we honor our commitment by remaining faithful and devoted to our spouse.
Yes, temptations arise, but Jesus’ steadfast love for us provides us strength to resist temptation. Following His example of resisting temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), we can rely on the power of God’s love to prioritize love, find fulfillment in our committed relationship, and be less tempted by adultery.
Loving like Jesus is a powerful tool to safeguard and honor our intimate relationships. By cultivating selfless, sacrificial, and committed love, we create emotional intimacy, trust, and fulfillment within our marriages. If we embrace this transformative love, allowing it to guide our actions and strengthen our commitment to our spouse, we will live out the commandments God gave to Moses and those our Savior gave us. As we strive to emulate Christ’s love, we discover the joy and fulfillment that come from faithful, loving relationships.