Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - Three Words for a Lifetime Love - #8207

Friday, February 13, 2009

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With Valentine's Day coming, I got to thinking about one of the greatest days of my life. It was the day my honey committed her life to me at our wedding. Now the pastor who married us actually apologized to me before we left the church that night. Not for marrying us, but for being too busy to give us marriage counseling. He said, "You know, the pastor who married us did the same thing. But just before we left for our honeymoon, he gave me three words of counseling. I’m going to give them to you. Beginning tonight and every day, put her first.” That pretty much says it.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft. And as I look back over our years together, those three words have pretty much spelled the difference between our happy times and not so happy times; putting her first or putting me first.

God's made it clear what He's expecting of me and every husband. "Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church (the Bible says) and gave Himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25 ). How did Christ love us? He sacrificed Himself for us, and that's the starting point for a marriage that works; a man who sets the pace with a love that puts her first.

Jesus' sacrificial love has changed my life. A man's sacrificial love for a woman can change hers. It works the same way when a woman lives to "put him first". For me, that means giving the woman I love what I have the least of, and that’s time. I know what makes her feel loved. It’s being heard by me, taking time when I don't have time; setting aside my plans and my agenda for hers; rolling up my sleeves to help her with the things that are on her list and on her mind. Here’s three words to build a lifetime love on: "Put her (him) first."

There’s more spiritual encouragement for you at our website. I hope you check it out today. It’s ALifeThatMatters.org.

This radio program references: Ephesians 5:25