Daily Devotional

2 January 2026

Love did not originate in human emotion or romantic attraction. Love began with God Himself. Scripture tells us plainly, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). This means love is not something we invented. It is something we were invited into. From the beginning, when God created Adam and declared that it was not good for man to be alone, marriage was established as a sacred space where divine love could be expressed in human form (Genesis 2:18).

Marriage, therefore, is more than companionship or attraction. It is a covenant designed to reflect God’s faithful, enduring, and self-giving love. When a husband and wife love each other the godly way, their union becomes a living sermon to the world about who God is.

Love Beyond Feelings

Many couples begin marriage deeply in love emotionally, yet over time discover that feelings alone cannot sustain a lifelong commitment. Feelings change. Seasons change. Responsibilities increase. Children come. Pressure builds. If love is built only on emotion, it will eventually feel unstable.

The Bible gives us a higher definition of love. “Love is patient, love is kind… it is not self-seeking… it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7). This description of love is not emotional language. It is behavioral language. It speaks of choices, actions, and character.

Consider a real-life example. A husband comes home tired from work. His wife has had a long day managing the home and children. Neither feels particularly romantic. Yet he chooses to help, to listen, to be gentle. She chooses to respond with appreciation rather than resentment. That is love in action. Not loud. Not dramatic. But deeply godly.

Jesus Himself modeled this kind of love. He did not love us because it was easy or emotionally rewarding. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Godly love chooses sacrifice even when feelings are strained.

Love is not Lust

One of the greatest threats to love in marriage is confusing lust with love. Lust focuses on personal satisfaction. Love focuses on the well-being of the other person. Lust asks, “What can I get?” Love asks, “How can I serve?”

The story of David and Bathsheba illustrates this clearly (2 Samuel 11). David’s desire was not rooted in covenant, responsibility, or honor. It was driven by impulse. What followed was secrecy, broken trust, and destruction. Lust always promises pleasure but leaves damage behind.

Godly love, on the other hand, is disciplined and respectful. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure.” This verse reminds us that intimacy in marriage is holy when it flows from commitment, trust, and mutual honor, not selfish desire.

A practical way couples can guard against lust is by nurturing emotional intimacy, not just physical closeness. Talking openly, praying together, and choosing faithfulness in thought and action keeps desire anchored in love rather than drifting into selfishness.

Expressing Love the Godly Way

Godly love must be expressed consistently, not occasionally. In Ephesians 5:25, husbands are instructed, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” Christ’s love was expressed through service, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment.

Wives are also called to love with wisdom and respect. Proverbs 31:12 says of a godly wife, “She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” This is not about perfection but about intention. Choosing words that build. Choosing actions that support. Choosing grace in moments of tension.

A simple example is communication. A couple may disagree about finances. One chooses harsh words. The other chooses patience. One chooses to listen rather than interrupt. In that moment, love is being practiced. Colossians 3:14 reminds us, “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Sustaining Love

Love that lasts is cultivated intentionally. It does not survive on autopilot. Song of Solomon 2:15 warns, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards.” In marriage, small unresolved issues can quietly erode love if they are ignored.

Couples sustain love by choosing each other daily. By praying together even when it feels awkward. By forgiving quickly. By expressing gratitude often. Ecclesiastes 4:12 tells us, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” When God remains at the center of marriage, love is strengthened against the pressures of life.

Think of an older couple who has been married for decades. Their love may not look flashy, but it is deep. They have learned each other’s weaknesses. They have weathered loss and disappointment. What keeps them together is not constant passion but covenant faithfulness.

A Closing Reflection

Marriage is one of God’s most powerful tools for revealing His love to the world. It is not sustained by feelings alone but by faith, obedience, and daily choices. When couples commit to loving the godly way, love matures from excitement into endurance, from attraction into devotion.

“Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14). When this becomes the heartbeat of a marriage, love does not fade. It deepens. It steadies. It endures. Love is intentional, not a feeling and not an accident. Stay intentional today anchored in God’s love. When God’s love flows, loving your spouse is easier.