Be a Blessing!

  "'Blessed are you who are poor,
      for yours is the kingdom of God.
  Blessed are you who hunger now,
      for you will be satisfied.
  Blessed are you who weep now,
      for you will laugh.
  Blessed are you when men hate you,
      when they exclude you and insult you
      and reject your name as evil, because of the
      Son of Man.
  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great
      is your reward in heaven.'" Luke 6:20-23

The words of Jesus can speak directly to us in our situation. Marital difficulties, separation and divorce leave its victims in financial straits, hungry for the companionship of the missing spouse, weeping from incredible pain and hated by a spouse that once pledged their love forever. In spite of these circumstances, Jesus calls you "blessed" for "great is your reward in heaven."

"Rejoice? You do not know what my spouse has done! (insert your own thoughts here) I cannot ignore this!" Such comments are usually accompanied with an unforgiving spirit towards your spouse, regardless of the denial that is easy to hide behind.

Jesus explains how to treat the one that has wronged you.

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those  
who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat
you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those
who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do
that. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them
without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be
great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to
the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is
merciful." Luke 6:27-28, 32-33, 35-36

Jesus is giving you the formula. Are you following the formula? If not, ask the Lord to give you unconditional love for your spouse regardless of anything that they may have done.

I followed this formula with my husband. Many will tell you that "tough love" and "ultimatums" are the only way to bring your wayward spouse home. It's the only way to build trust.  It's the only way to remove doubt.  God does those things....there is nothing we can do in ourselves to make those things happen. Jesus did not deal with sinners through ultimatums and tough love. He simply loved them. I do not believe His message has changed.

Take time to get quiet before Him, ask the Lord to reveal to you what you should do to show love. Get away from the distractions of the busy world to listen to His response. He will direct you in what you should do. Every single day you have numerous opportunities to be a blessing to your spouse.

It is through these blessings that a hardened heart will be softened, not through constant prodding, pleading and begging. Take hold of this. It is serving the one that least deserves it that lives will be changed through the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ nailed to the cross is your example of unconditional, self-sacrificing love. The world teaches a love that takes and never gives. The way of the cross is to love even when it hurts for the betterment of the one that is loved. The Lord can equip you!

Choose the way of the cross and be a blessing to your spouse. "Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:37-38