How often have we heard someone say, "we just fell in love?" How often have we heard someone say, "we just fell out of love?" These two statements denote that "Love" is something that randomly occurs and dissipates. But this is not true. Most often, when couples breakup, it's usually because one of them became self-centered, and turned their attention and affections away from their mate/partner.

 

When this selfishness enters a relationship, that relationship will suffer catastrophe. The two people who were so smitten and "head-over-heels" in love in the beginning, hate each other in the end. But why? Because they are no longer nurturing the relational dynamic of being a couple. Whoever decided to turn inward, is no longer loving outward.

 

Instead of thinking of love as a thing that randomly and uncontrollably just happens, we have to understand that love is a deliberate and focused action. The Bible refers to love as a walk. Ephesians 5:2 (NIV), declares, "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

 

I implore you to read the entirety of Ephesians 5, it explains love between God and His children, and also between a husband and a wife. But the most poignant scripture denoting the power of love as an action is, John 3:16-18 (KJV), "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."

 

From these scriptural examples of love, we clearly see that love is a deliberate action that gives for the greater good. That's the kind of attitude we should walk in to ensure that we walk in love, not just from the emotional high of "being in love" but rather from the relational responsibility of "being love" to our mate/partner. From the attitude of "being a loving mate/partner" we will stay mindful of how well we are treating the one we have committed to love. This will create a loving relational environment that nurtures the heart, soul, body, and the relational covenant.