An unfamiliar country song came through the speakers of my hairstylist’s radio.
I recognized the artist’s voice. He sings one of my favorites, Like Jesus Does, a song written about his girl who loves him in Jesus’ ways. It’s touching, it’s truth-filled, it’s challenges me.
Here’s Eric Church’s acoustic version if you care to listen to it.
I tried to explain that song to Tracy (my stylist), and as I attempted, I added, “I’m convicted each time I hear it, because I don’t love my husband like Jesus does.”
Those words sounded strange coming off my lips, and caused laughter to escape from us both. But reality struck me again…
“I don’t love my husband like Jesus does.”
I peer into Jesus’ life through the pages of scripture. I read how, out of love, He forgave, He healed, He touched, He listened, He helped, He saved. His love caused Him to give up His own life, so we could live forever in it.
Jesus’ love hasn’t changed. It’s still full of grace, mercy, and truth. His love is unconditional, unadulterated, unrestricted. It’s pure, it’s perfect, it’s real. It’s everlasting, knows no bounds, and is available to all.
This reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
Jesus loves us with that kind of love.
I want to love like that.
To love my husband in who God desires him to be, not who I want Him to be.
To help bring out God’s best in him, not my idea of what’s best for him.
To pray for God’s perfect will for his life to come to pass, not my imperfect plans.
To love, honor, encourage, and bless him… as Jesus does.
My husband deserves a wife who loves him like Jesus does.
I imagine you have people in your life you desire to love like that, too.
But how?? How do we begin to love like Jesus does?
It’s pretty clear to me, I can’t do it on my own. You’d think through our 23 years of marriage, I’d have this loving thing down. I may do well for awhile, but I fail on my own.
John 15:5 tells us,
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Ahhh, there it is! The key is sticking close to Jesus. To abide or persevere with and in Him. To ask for help in loving His way.
Apart from Him I can do nothing.
Yep, that’s truth right there.
Before having interaction with anyone in my day, I spend time each morning talking with God, and asking Jesus to help me love like He does. To help me see others through His eyes and not my own. To extend grace, mercy and compassion to everyone I meet.
To love like Jesus does.
I still don’t love perfectly, but day by day, I see progress. And for that, I’m thankful.
I love how God can use even a country song to help me be a better wife. Thank you, Mr. Church!
And thank you for stopping in and walking this out with me today. Bless you!
Julie
Linking up with Jennifer Dukes Lee for #TellHisStory and Holley Gerth for Coffee For Your Heart.
Oh my goodness I love this. I just shared on my Facebook page. Beautiful.
Thank you, Debbie. Glad you stopped by and thank you for sharing!
I once felt a Jesus-like love…I loved unconditionally, bore the imperfections, celebrated the strengths, and strove to learn and understand the object of my affection…
…which was a 1958 Ford pickup.
Loving another person that way – where love is a 2-way street, given received, appreciated, and sometimes rejected…is so very, very hard.
Yup, Cain’t hardly do it by yerself, nohow.
This is great, Andrew. You brought a smile to my face today. Love for a 1958 Ford know no bounds! I appreciate your humor and your presence. Have a blessed day, friend!
Beautiful, my friend! (I love that song, too!) Great post… even better goal! 😉
Thank you, Karrilee. Yes, a great goal. I pray I get there someday!
I’m right next to you at Jennifer’s link-up and oh, how I needed this post. I think loving this man that I live with everyday as Jesus loves him is life’s biggest challenge for me. I tend to keep a mental record of wrongs all too often, from he left a mess in the kitchen to he hurt my feelings. God help me to let Jesus’ love flow though me.
I pray that daily, Elizabeth. I just can’t love well on my own. Keep praying. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. It’s a gift to encourage each other on this journey of love. Bless you!
Julie, the Lord has been playing this theme over and over in my head and heart lately. I just finished the book “Love Walked Among Us: Learning to Love Like Jesus” by Paul E. Miller. It is phenomenal. A beautiful look at the life of Jesus, breaking apart the stories in the gospels to see the how-to of Jesus’ love for those He met. Thank you for reminding me, once again, that I must abide in Him in order to love like Him. Beautiful post!
I’ll add this book to my reading list, Sabra. Sounds great! I love your words here, “… I must abide in Him in order to love like Him.” Thank you for your summarizing words. You’re a blessing, friend!
Ouch. I don’t love my husband like Jesus either. Great post, Julie!
Glad we can be in this together to encourage one another, Sarah! Blessings!