The preacher at the wedding was an ardent fisherman and forgetful. He asked the groom, "Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish this woman?" "I do," said the groom meekly. "Okay," said the minister, turning to the bride, "Reel him in!"
This is a season for weddings. Happiness abounds, gifts celebrate the new home together, and the dancing is joyous. The way ahead for the newly married couple is challenging, and can be worthwhile for each. No one doubts that marriage is hard work.. The blending relationship occurs most often through times of working through opposite or differing opinions.
Paul reminds us how we work things through in our marriages, personal and professional lives. We are to pattern our priorities parallel to those that Jesus reflected in His lifetime-- patience and kindness. Watch out for envy, boastfulness, arrogance and don't be rude, He says. Love is the key, Paul says. We are to love just as Jesus loves us.
Love 'reels in' spouses, children, friends, co-workers, neighbors and enemies. It's a radical movement, Christianity is. We choose to love someone else first-- before we even know them fully. Our love is not dependent-- it is self-assured and kind. This is the season for kind love.
Paul said: If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ...Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 1 Corinthians 13:1-4
Rev. Patricia E. Walker, AlphaChurch.org
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