“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8
Romance can fade quickly when we rely on our spouse to meet all of our needs. Though we may not like to admit it, the truth is, our needs are often insatiable. We have physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs—none of which are inherently bad. In fact, God designed us in His image, and before the fall in Genesis 3, all these needs were fully satisfied in Him. God’s design was that through the relationship He established with Adam, Eve, and their descendants, humanity would live in perfect communion with God. The reality we now live in though, is not as God intended.
What we need more than anything is to turn to Jesus, who demonstrated unconditional love for us in the most extravagant and sacrificial way. 1 Peter was written to believers scattered across the ancient world, enduring intense persecution for their faith. Peter’s words remind us that no matter what challenges we may face, above all, we are called to love earnestly. A love that motivates us to unity and understanding.
This applies directly to marriage. We must love fiercely, remaining connected to the Lord and each other. It’s essential to stay in close communion with God to maintain unity with our spouse.
Unconditional love is a deep expression of emotion that continues even in moments of suffering or misunderstanding. Even when we feel our spouse doesn’t understand us, we are called to keep loving, pursuing, forgiving, and pressing toward them.
Earnest love means loving even when it’s not easy! You got this!
