“Couples who choose not to be fickle when their faith is tested, remind themselves of God’s continual faithfulness.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – February 28, 2022
Enjoy the wife you married as a young man! Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose—don’t ever quit taking delight in her body. Never take her love for granted! Proverbs 5:18-19, MSG
My wife Rita and I couple skated in 7th grade at Archie’s roller-skating rink. We were just friends throughout middle school and most of high school. Then our hearts fluttered, and we became more than friends. We started dating our senior year of high school. Remarkably, I began attending church for the first time with Rita and her family. Their evangelism was love and hospitality. I became a Christian as a freshman in college and we soon married. The past 42 years we have traveled the world, worked in business, served in ministry and our four babies have had babies. We live in a little cottage on a hill…giddy to be able to grow old together.
Solomon gave solemn advice that he did not follow in his later years of life. The once humble, wise King recognized the beauty of being captivated by the love of a young wife—your bride / groom. You grow old together, with eyes only for each another. Looking as lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose and never ceasing to find delight in one another physically and emotionally. Instead of taking each other’s love for granted—embrace gratitude, joy and sweet enduring love!
What happens when death, disease or divorce steal away your opportunity to grow old together? I don’t have a pat answer, but I do know Jesus never, ever leaves you—He is with you for the long run, so run toward the Lord. You can grow old gracefully with God’s faithfulness and love.
“I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness” (Psalm 26:3).
In the same way we are mindful of the Lord’s unfailing love and lean into reliance on His faithfulness, so as we grow old together, we give each other our intimate love and the security of our faithfulness. Trust, peace and protection are mutual gifts from loving well over a lifetime that cause couples to not just get by, but thrive. Sometimes they thrive financially as generous givers, other times they thrive by serving those in their community with their time and resources. Most helpful are couples who, having been together long, freely open their safe homes as a haven of love, a safe place for the youthful to be encouraged and instructed. Love helps others grow old together.
Shared memories, remembered and celebrated grow more valuable in relational worth. Priceless experiences involving just the two of you—percolate with abiding joy, embedded in your spirit. Holy ground: where Jesus prays for you, the Spirit comforts you and your Father loves you. Couples who choose not to be fickle when their faith is tested, remind themselves of God’s continual faithfulness and how they need each other, especially in difficult days. You grow old together with grace when you draw closer to Christ and each other during a crisis. In life’s hard, hurtful places your humble, mutual prayers grow more frequent. Intimacy grows as your hearts pray in unison. Together you experience God’s generous, unfailing love as you grow old together.
“May he restore your youth and take care of you in your old age” (Ruth 4:15, TLB).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, grow my love for my spouse each day so we can grow old together with grace, through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What person or situation do my spouse and I need to pray about together to the Lord?
Related Reading
Psalm 71:18; Isaiah 46:4; 2 Corinthians 4:16-17; Philippians 1:6
Worship Resource
Restless Road: Growing Old with You
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