Together in Christ: 'The Mystery of Love' — Proverbs 30:18-19

The whys and hows of love remain a mystery. What captures the heart of one person with another? What stirs the yearning to share life with another? What motivates the unpredictable affections of one human faithfully being able to support, love, and walk beside another for a lifetime?

For believers in Christ, these questions remain mysterious but not unanswerable. We believe the Holy Spirit empowers us to love ^[1] and also guides us in our decisions, as well as guiding us to those we come to know. ^[2] In fact, the power of self-sacrificing, faithful love is the greatest of all spiritual gifts. ^[3] We call this ἀγάπη (agape) love, the kind of love defined by God's actions for us in Jesus. ^[4] So, the power behind this mysterious and deep spiritual love for another is rooted in the nature and example of God. We love in this way because we are taught, shown, and empowered to love this way. ^[5]

Still, the way of love between a man and a woman remains shrouded in mystery! Such affection involves attraction, desire, interest, yearning, commitment, need, presence, sacrifice, tenderness, and a host of other elements that enable true love to last between a man and a woman.

If this kind of loving relationship blesses you, thank God as you also ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into a deeper and broader understanding of this love. ^[6] If you have not found this kind of love in your marriage, continue to be faithful and ask for God's help for you to grow in your love, desire, attraction, and commitment to each other. ^[7] Serve and do loving acts for each other ^[8] as you honor the other above yourself. ^[9] Most of all, embrace the mystery of love as you seek to honor the Lord and each other in your relationship. ^[10] Emotions and attractional sentiments can come and go, and passion may ebb and flow, but true love seeks to grow and embrace the mystery of God's power working through us to express His love through us with each other.