“We Don’t want Hallmark Love” (We want the Real Thing)
Philippians 2:1-2
Hallmark is a card with a romantic saying, “Hallmark loves romantic love because it sells cards and makes money.”
Alicia thought she had the perfect fiancé. As she was getting to know Michael and his family, she was very impressed by how much his parents loved each other.
“They’re so thoughtful,” Alicia said. “Why, your dad even brings your mom a cup of hot coffee in bed every morning.”
After a time, Alicia and Michael were engaged, and then married.
On the way from the wedding to the reception, Alicia again remarked on Michael’s loving parents and his mom’s morning coffee in bed.
“Tell me,” she said, “does it run in the family?”
“It sure does,” replied Michael. “But you should know — I take after my mom.”
Question: What has happened? Where has the love gone? Many wish they could make the fire hotter, to make it like it first was. Biblical Principles
Principle #1: Encourage one another.
Philippians 2:1 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ…” Question: When was the last time you praised your mate with encouraging words?
George M. Adams has remarked, “There are high spots in all of our lives and most of them have come through encouragement from someone else. I don’t care how great, how famous or how successful a man or woman may be, each hungers for applause.”
Question: Do you encourage your mate? Do you praise him or her in small things? After all, he or she is a special gift from God to be praised and encouraged in every endeavor?
Principle #2 Comfort One Another.
Philippians 2:1“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love…”
A magician accidentally turned his wife into a couch and his two kids into armchairs. He started to panic and thought to himself, “What on earth have I done?”
He began to ponder, “How am I going to bring back my beloved family?” He decided a good idea was to take them to a hospital and see if the surgeon could bring them back. He walked up and down the hospital hall and after some serious surgery, he asks the doctor, “Doc, how are they?”
The doctor replied, “Comfortable!” Question: How much comfort do you give your spouse in your marriage?
Principle #3: Spend time with one another.
Philippians 2:1“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion…”
Fellowship! Everyone here knows how to fellowship. But there’s one thing you need to fellowship: Time! Spending time together is so important for any relationship, including marriage!
A tornado hit a Kansas farmhouse just before dawn one morning. It tore off the roof and picked up the beds on which the farmer and his wife were sleeping. By some miracle, the tornado set them down, unharmed, the next county over. The wife was sobbing uncontrollably.
“Don’t be scared, Mary,” her husband said. “We’re not hurt.”
Mary continued to cry. “I’m not scared,” she said between sobs. “I’m happy… this is the first time we’ve been out together in 14 years.”
A fourth principle: “Be Tender to one another.”
Philippians 2:1
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion…”
No marriage has ever been perfect except one. “Adam and Eve”
Adam and Eve had the world’s only perfect marriage. She couldn’t talk about the man she might have married and he couldn’t complain that his mother was a better cook.
But most marriages would be a lot better if both spouses would flavor acts of kindness into the mix of every day life. Sophocles (C. 496-406 B.C.)
As the Greek dramatist, Sophocles, once remarked, “Kindness will always attract kindness.” Being kind to your spouse might be difficult to do at times, especially in the middle of an argument, but the more kindness you give, the closer your Valentine Dream will come true.
Pastor Alan
Good — I like it