The Need for Covenantal Love

It's only been a few weeks since we witnessed the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and heard the now popular, but powerful sermon on the importance of love by the Right Reverend Michael Curry. The royals didn't let us down and provided us with a beautiful picture of love.

"We must discover the power of love, the power, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that we will be able to make of this old world a new world."

As you attend your own royal weddings during this wedding season, you often hear 1 Corinthians 13 read. The chapter reminds us of the characteristics of love.

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong doing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

When we hear these words recited during the ceremony, we may vow to love better. Weddings provide us with a moment to reflect on the covenant we made when we took those vows.

The marital commitment is a covenant — an unbreakable promise. It means you are in it for the long haul. Thus, the term "covenant" rather than "contract" has a much deeper meaning. And if you go into marriage thinking you need to be in it for life, you have a greater chance of sticking it out through thick and thin. It is the beginning of a life-long commitment and the beginning of a family, in most cases.

A healthy marriage gives kids a front-row seat as to how to build a strong family, serve, and have the love and support of others. When we do it right, we reflect our Creator's unconditional love for us. His promise is to never leave or forsake us. We model for our children the sacredness of covenant by working through our problems and staying together.

In order to honor your covenant, love God with all your heart and He will help you love others as yourself. 1 Peter 4:8 says, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." And 1 Corinthians 16:14 tells us to "do everything in love."

If the royal wedding only served the purpose to remind us of love, it did much good. This wedding season, remember marriage is about the kind of love that is committed and lasts. Purpose in your heart to love more and better — not just when you attend a wedding and are reminded of vows, but love well every day.