“Jesus said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment.”
Matthew 22:37-38
“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and
good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another.” Hebrews 10:24-25
A young couple asked our secret of success for 60 years of
marriage. My husband and I listed the three C’s: commitment, communication, and
caring. We stated that both of us need to be committed to our marriage. We
explained that it is easy to be committed to our relationship when it is going
well. When not going well, that’s the hard part.
I Kings 8:61
“Therefore devote yourselves completely to the Lord our God; walking in
his statues and keeping his commandments, as at this day.”
Communication needs to be more than, “Take out the garbage.”
It involves listening and hearing what the other person is really saying.
James 1:19 “You must understand this, my beloved: let
everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, for your anger does
not produce God’s righteousness.”
Caring includes taking time to support and cherish each
other every day.
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”
These three qualities can also be important in our faith
journey. We need to be committed to our relationship to God. Commitment is an
action on our part in response to God. Our communication with God needs to be
more than prayer requests. It is important to search and study Scripture to
discover God’s messages for us. It involves listening for God’s direction and
guidance.
Caring is important for persons and the world. We need to take time
to seek out those who may be lonely or troubled. These are ways for caring each
day.
PRAYER: God, help us
to be committed to your commandments and to listen for your guidance. Show us how to care for others and your
world. Amen
Lois Poppe
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