Greetings Pastor Larry,

Thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging response. I truly appreciate how you expanded on the importance of mutual respect and sacrificial love in marriage, and how you highlighted Ephesians 5:22-25 — “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church…” This passage beautifully illustrates the divine blueprint for marriage: a mutual surrendering to one another in love, reflecting Christ’s relationship with the church. It’s a beautiful, challenging call for both husbands and wives to serve each other with humility and grace.

Another verse that complements this teaching is “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). This verse reminds us that marriage—like all relationships—requires patience, humility, and a commitment to bearing with one another, especially in the toughest moments. As Christ humbly served us, we too are called to humbly serve our spouses in all circumstances, whether easy or hard. It’s in this daily surrender that we reflect His love most clearly.

Your point about sacrificial love transforming marriage is so powerful. Love, when embodied as Christ’s love, isn’t just about feelings—it’s about choosing to serve, forgive, and prioritize the other person. This isn’t always easy, especially in the face of conflict or difficulty. But this kind of love isn’t just a fleeting emotion; it’s a choice and an action that honors God’s design for marriage. In practical terms, this looks like checking our hearts daily, asking ourselves whether we’re living with humility and selflessness, even in the hardest moments.

How do you personally encourage couples to cultivate this kind of selfless love in their relationships, especially when they are facing difficult seasons? For me, I’ve found that couples benefit from being reminded that love is a daily choice. Sometimes it’s simply about encouraging them to choose kindness, patience, and humility—even when it feels like the harder option. Walking alongside couples in prayer and sharing Scripture together also helps them remain grounded in God’s love, no matter the season.

What are some of the practical ways you’ve found to strengthen couples’ resolve to live out Christlike love during difficult seasons?

God be with you,
Pastor Luke