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5:31
Explore what it means to love God, love others, and build relationships that reflect the heart of Christ with Brother Michael Baldon.
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Good morning brothers. How are you? As you guys know, my name is Brother Mike Baldon. I'm a member of Word of God Christian Center here in Fairville, North Carolina. Excuse me. We come to you guys this morning for our continued commitment to our men's devotional. Okay. As you guys know, the last several months here, we've been focusing on sharing information that would equip, prepare, encourage, give wisdom, knowledge, based scripturally, on preparing men to be better in their walk with Christ, okay? And also allowing them to develop solid Christian relationships, okay? So here we go, guys. This month we're gonna be diving into the topic primarily is um redefining love after 23 years of marriage, okay? As you guys know, my lovely wife, Missy Vaughn. We've been married for um 23 years, okay? Um, and that itself is a feat, okay, uh, considering uh the lifespan of marriages in our current society. So that's that's a feat, okay? So there's a little wisdom there, and I would like to partake with you guys with um here over the last, I'm excuse me, over the next four weeks or so here, okay? But just kind of dive into it briefly, kind of lay everything out. Um, there's four parts we're gonna communicate about this uh this month, okay. Part one is love is a choice, not just a feeling, excuse me. Part two, love requires growth. Part three, love is sacrificial leadership, and of course, part four, love leaves a legacy. Okay, we're gonna start with part one today, okay? Love is a choice and not just a feeling, okay? We do have an open scripture that we're gonna um dive into real quickly. It's Ephesians 5 and 25. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. When you first get married, you know, love is easy, okay? There's excitement, anticipation, passion. But after 23 years, love is tested by real life, okay? Careers, children, bills, disappointments, health challenges, and unmet expectations. Many men believe they fall out of love because they no longer feel what they once felt. The truth is that biblical love is never intended to be sustained by feelings alone. Feelings are a gift from God, but feelings make a poor foundation. Covenant makes a strong foundation. Point one, fellows, excuse me, feelings follow commitment. Jesus did not go to the cross because he felt like it. Okay. In Luke 22, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was overwhelmed and distressed, yet he chose obedience. Love works the same way. Many mourners you may not feel patient. Many mourners you may not feel understanding. Many mourners you may not feel romantic, but love says, I choose to honor my commitment, my covenant, anyway. A strong marriage is not one decision at a time. A strong marriage is built one decision at a time. I'm gonna say that again. A strong marriage is built one decision at a time. Love is a daily pursuit, guys. One of the greatest mistakes men make in assuming is assuming that because they won their wives, they no longer have to pursue her. We continue pursuing careers, we continue pursuing hobbies, we continue pursuing financial goals, but sometimes we stop pursuing a woman we promised to love. Ask yourself, when was the last time I planned a date? When was the last time I encouraged her? When was the last time I listened without trying to fix something? The same effort that started the relationship is often required to strengthen it or maintain it. My final point, guys, love is seen through action. Talk is cheating. Love is not proven by what we say, love is proven by what we consistently do. A wife may forget what flowers you bought, she may forget what restaurant you chose, but she remembers several things. How you treated her, how you spoke to her, whether she felt valued, and more importantly, whether she felt safe. Real love is demonstrated, guys. I'm gonna leave you one application here, okay? This week, choose one intentional act of love. Write a note, schedule a date, pray with your wife, all right? Ask her how she's really doing. Do something that communicates, I choose you. Closing in prayer. Lord, teach us that love is more than emotion. Help us become men who honor our commitments, pursue our wives intentionally, and reflect the sacrificial love of Christ. Renew our hearts and strengthen our marriages. In Jesus' name. Amen. God, look forward to seeing you soon. Love you. Take care.
