If you missed the first part, read Identifying stones.

Biblical concept of love

The Bible has a lot to say about love.  Let’s look for a moment at Jesus’ simple illustration of love.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Look at that part “Just as I have loved you”.  At the beginning of this chapter he had been sitting with his disciples, and then got up and washed their feet.
What had they been doing to deserve this?  NOTHING.  In fact, they had been quarreling among themselves, blaming, etc.

Jesus demonstrated a love of service and self-denial and then said,

“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

This applies to all form of love, including marital.  We often think of marriage in terms of “choosing” the right one, “taking” their hand in marriage, and other acts of what we receive.  But marriage is about giving yourself to another person.
God turns our ideas upside down!

Luke 22:26 Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.
John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

Colossions 3:16 commands wives to submit to their husbands.

Okay, ladies.  Let’s not freak out over the “s” word.  While Jesus lived here as God in the flesh, he had great respect and love for the women in his life.  (Christianity has the highest regard for women and children than any other major religion, but that’s another subject.)  So what I’m saying is, he’s not about to tell us in Scripture to do something that will demean us or be to our disadvantage.

There have been, and always will be, those who twist Bible verses to justify mistreatment of women.  Scripture does not support abuse, and women in that situation should seek help.

As for mutual, servant love in a healthy, God-honoring marriage..  For what purpose do we do this?  The verse just above that says

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

So we do it in the name of Jesus, in the spirit of thankfulness to God.  It goes on to speak to husbands, children, fathers and servants, then ends with

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

So this submission to our husbands is to be done heartily, as if we are submitting to God.

So just as love is not contingent on the other person’s worth, whether they are deserving, or what they can give in return.
Jesus was demonstrating an unconditional, forgiving, love.  It is a self-LESS love.

Ugh, this is hard.

But remember those stones I talked about yesterday that can we can carry around? Imagine trying to hug someone with both arms while still holding a pile of rocks. It’s pretty much impossible. Holding stones of resentment and selfishness prevent us from truly loving as we should.

See ya tomorrow!