What about Romantic Relationships? (Part 2)

Published: Oct. 18, 2020, 4 a.m.

b"How can romantic relationships help us better understand who Jesus is? God-honoring romantic relationships can be great places to learn more about God's love. In my own life, God has used my relationship with my fianc\\xc3\\u0192\\xc2\\xa9 to teach me about my relationship with Him. First, I've learned more about God's love. When I consider how much my fianc\\xc3\\u0192\\xc2\\xa9 and I love each other, I'm reminded of how much more God loves both of us. As we love and serve each other, we are reminded of the way Jesus loves us and sacrificed Himself for us (Ephesians 5:2; 1 John 4:19). Second, I've learned how well God knows me. Sometimes, when we are on a date, my boyfriend will ask if I want to split mozzarella sticks, and I'll debate and then refuse. He'll go ahead and order them for himself and, lo and behold, guess who actually wants mozzarella sticks? This simple way that my fianc\\xc3\\u0192\\xc2\\xa9 knows me so well pales in comparison to how deeply God knows me (Psalm 139:1-4; John 10:14). Third, my relationship has been a reminder that God made people to be in community (Genesis 1\\u201d\\u20ac\\u01532). Some Christians are called to singleness and others are called to marriage, so romantic relationships leading to marriage are one way\\u2014but not the only way\\u2014Christians can experience community (1 Corinthians 7). Ultimately, marriage points to Jesus because the church\\u2014all Christians around the world and throughout history\\u2014is called the bride of Christ, a picture of the kind of sacrificial love Jesus has for His people (Ephesians 5:25-26). He died for our sins, rose again, and promises to return to dwell with us forever. And, in the meantime, He dwells with us through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, as Christians\\u2014 whether we are single, married, or on the way to being married\\u2014we are perfectly loved and known in Christ. \\u2022 Naomi Zylstra \\u2022 What does the death of Jesus for your sin have to do with your approach to romance? What does a Jesus-centered relationship look like? To dig into this subject, check out Matthew 19:4-6, 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 and 13:4-7, 2 Corinthians 6:14-15, Ephesians 5, and Hebrews 13:4. \\u2022 If you have questions about what this looks like, who is a trusted Christian in your life\\u2014such as a pastor, counselor, or parent\\u2014you can bring those questions to? Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:2 (NLT)\\n\\nRead Verses:\\n\\nEphesians 5"