Day 22: Love is Faithful

DARE: Love is a choice, not a feeling. It is an initiated action, not a knew-jerk reaction. Choose today to be committed to love even if your spouse has lost most of their interest in receiving it. Say to them in words similar to these, "I love you. Period. Choose to love you even if you don't love me in return."

Funny how I grew up in church and know stories in the Bible front to back. But as an adult, when I go back and read the same story, I finally get the point. Today's story is about unconditional love. And being faithful to that love, and faithful to God.

In the book of Hosea, God instructs the prophet Hosea to marry a prostititute. In today's world, can you imagine if a Holy man of God marries a prostitute because "God told him too." How many frowns do you think that would get?! But God did tell him too, and Hosea listened. He married Gomer. He had three children with Gomer. But then, this lady who had made her living by living in immortality was not content to stay with just one man. This embarrassed Hosea, and how do you think he felt after God told him to do this. Discouraged? Most likely. Shame? Of course!! I would. But he had grown to love her. They had once been close. As time passed, God spoke to Hosea again and told him to go and reaffirm his love her Gomer. (an example on waiting on God to speak) He had to go and buy her off a slave block. But he did. he paid the price to get his own wife back. He treated her with more love and welcomed her back in and expression of unconditional love.

God placed this story in the Bible I'm sure to demonstrate a life-like love with heavenly meaning. God loves us this way. Even when we don't pay attention, he shows favor on us. We reject Him...He still loves us and remains faithful.

Jesus calls us to this kind of love in our life and in our marriage. He said "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:27-28 I know I am not persecuted daily for my love for Christ. I do know there are days I get mistreated and get talked about. God tells me to love those who do this, and PRAY FOR them. God has been convicting me a lot lately about my prayer life. So often, people send prayer reqeusts my way, and I say ok I will pray....and I forget! No more....Prayer is my communication with God.

From a marriage persepctive, you would never think that your spouse could become your enemy, but they can. Too often marriages dwindle down to that level, and even to the point of betrayal and people respond so quickly to a rapid divorce. Others, care more about their reputation than each other's happiness and think to keep the charade going with no intention of even liking one another. Unfortunately, I have been on both of those decisions. With the first divorce, I gave up quickly. With Cory, we just kept living an act. Either way, I'm embarrassed on the decsisions that I Have made, but in the same token, I am very thankful. Those decisions have molded me to who I am right now. Katrina Ann Hanks, with a wonderful husband, Cory, a beautiful daughter Naomi, and a part of two great families who love me dearly.

Marriage and love is the model for a follower of Christ. If our love is to be like HIS, it must be around even when it is unwanted or unappreciated. We can give undesevred love to our spouses because God did - over and over again. I am asking Him today, to fill me with the love only He can give me, and help me give it in a way that reflects gratefllness to God for loving me, and shown to Cory and those around me.