Chapter Eight ~ Because He First Loved Us

"By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:9-10, 19

The only reason we can love others is because God has first loved us. When we were dead in our sin, He loved us and made a way for us to be united with Him. We are commanded in scripture to love God with all our hearts and love our neighbor as our self. Our first and supreme love must be for God. Our love for God is to dominate our thoughts and actions. When we are so enamored with God’s love for us and love Him above all, then we can obey the second commandment, loving others. We are to love our husband as we love our self. We are to love them the way Christ has loved us. True love is a love that persistently seeks to do good to the one loved. We are to act with fondness, affection and kindness to our husbands.

I am humbled by how Christ loves me. He loved me in all my sin and shame. My love for my husband should not be dependent on his behavior. It's dependent on the fact that I am loved by my heavenly Father. Because I am so loved by God, that love can spill over to others in my life. The more I focus on how I am loved by God, the more I will love like Christ.

Chapter Seven ~ Called for His Purpose

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who are love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28


God’s ultimate purpose is always to glorify Himself. God’s purpose in creating marriage was for His glory. God’s purpose in putting me in the marriage in am in, is for His glory and my good. Our marriage does not have to be perfect to bring Him glory. He receives glory as we trust and grow in Him in the midst of our struggles. We can rest in the fact that whatever we may be going through, the purpose is to bring God glory. God is more interested in His reputation than in my earthly comfort. He knows that our happiness and His glory are inextricably bound together and that we’ll never be truly happy until we drink deeply of His person and grow in our desire to glorify Him. I will only be able to experience satisfaction when I realize that the purpose of my life is to glorify Him and enjoy Him eternally.


I have been encouraged with the reminder that God uses all things for my good. On page 117 she states that "God is re-forming His image in you, a Christian woman. Not only is He glorifying Himself, He is actively causing genuine good to be developed in our lives." and on page 119 "He knows our happiness and His glory are inextricably bound together and that we'll never be truly happy until we drink deeply of His person and grow in our desire to glorify Him". It is good to be reminded that everything in my life circumstances are brought to me by my loving Father for my good.