Covenant Love - The One Year Love Language Minute Devotional

Covenant Love

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.

John 10:27-28

IN YESTERDAY’S DEVOTION, we noted that contracts are temporary, but covenants are permanent. What is another difference between a covenant marriage and a contract marriage? Contracts are conditional: I will do this if you will do that. For example, the bank allows you to drive your car so long as you make the payments. Stop the payments, and the car goes back to the lender. Some couples view marriage in the same way. If you keep your end of the bargain, then I’ll keep mine. This is a cheap view of marriage.

Covenant marriage is based on unconditional love. I am committed to my spouse’s well-being, no matter what. Isn’t that the kind of love God has for us? When we accept Christ, we become his children. We may be disobedient, but we are still his. He will not disown us. He will hold us accountable, but he will not walk out on us. In John 10, Jesus compares himself to a shepherd who sacrifices himself for his sheep. He gives his sheep—believers—eternal life, and no one can separate them from him, no matter how hard they try. That’s a picture of covenant.

This is the pattern for Christian marriage. We must be committed to seek our spouse’s well-being, no matter what he or she does. Certainly we will seek to hold each other accountable for sinful behavior, but we will not abandon our marriage, because we are each other’s best source of help. Covenant says, “I will always seek your best interests.”

Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us unconditionally. Even when we do the things that real sheep do—run away, act foolishly, ignore your voice—you hold on to us and love us. May that picture inspire me as I try to love my spouse unconditionally. Renew our love and commitment, Father, I pray.

Covenant