Happy Anniversary! // 1 Corinthians 13:10
Today is a happy day…it’s the 23rd anniversary of my marriage to Tiffany! The verse for today comes from the Bible passage read at our wedding (1 Corinthians 13). This is not to say that either of us are perfect — or we have a perfect marriage — but it is a testament to the perfection of love.
Our Wesleyan theological tradition of Christianity believes a person can be perfected in love. This does not mean we will never make mistakes. What it does mean is love empowers us to seek to perfect our motives and intention. This is in line with what Jesus taught when He said we are to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbor as we love self (Mark 12:30-31). When the inevitable mistakes are made, love inspires the burden to seek forgiveness and restore the relationship. That kind of love takes a choice to weather the tough times and be patient in our own growth, as well as the growth of the other. The same perfect love that casts out fear (1 John 4:18) is the same love that planes our blemishes, smooths our rough edges, and helps us strive for the fulfillment of God’s prefect plan.
Happy anniversary, Tiffany. I dedicate today’s devotion to you in honor of the love God established for us. May it always be the same love into which we choose to live. As imperfect as I am, I praise the perfect love of God finishing our lives into His purposeful plan. Thanks for putting up with me all these years. I cannot wait to see where we are as the future unfolds!
