The Look of Love
By Marsha
02. Feb, 2010 
7 Comments
I adore this picture. In it I see the look of a love that never died, never went adrift, that has grown in intimacy over the years and has kept its focus. For me, this picture captures what it’s like to be deeply in love.
Despite their advanced years, they look into each other’s eyes and still see the allure of the one they grew to love oh so many years ago. They’ve never lost sight of that love and have kept a “til death do us part” mind set.
He lovingly wraps his arms and blanket around his wife to protect and shelter her. Her arms are touching and embracing him back.
They drink from the cup of their love for one another and are truly satisfied. They are as one.
Mike and I have been married for 35 years and 10 months. He’s the only man I have ever known and I the only woman for him. It hasn’t always been easy to love each other. There were times it would have been easier to allow ourselves to drift apart and live separate lives. But we both knew this was not God’s plan, and so we made the choice years ago to focus on seeing each other through God’s love lens.
God’s Love Lens
When God looks at us, how does He view us? Does He only see our faults and thereby cringing and withholding His love from us because we don’t measure up to His ideal?
Absolutely not! When He looks at us, He views us through the lens of the cross, (1 John 4:9,10) the ultimate demonstration of love. His view of us is that of a redeeming love. Something He has purchased at great cost.
We tend to view things through the tainted lens filter of our past, how we were raised, our life experience. God’s filter, on the other hand, is pure love because that’s His very essence. “God is love.” I John 4:8b
During those times when Mike and I are at odds, I’m reminded to look through God’s love lens and look for ways to redeem the situation, to demonstrate God’s attribute of love. I’m not to cringe, withdraw or withhold my love because I feel I’ve been wronged in some way, even though, sad to say I have at times done those things.
God’s Picture of Love
Two thousand years ago, God saw us through the lens of the cross and then snapped a picture and wrote under it, “This is what love looks like. Study it. Exemplify this kind of love.”
And then He directed the Apostle Paul to write down the words that would describe the picture, much like I tried to describe the picture above. You can find that description in the great love passage, 1 Corinthians 13.
God’s picture of love was demonstrated on the cross. It’s now up to me to live love out daily, otherwise life will profit nothing and my words and actions will sound like a noisy gong or clanging cymbals.
I have a choice in which picture I choose to take when I respond to my husband. I can use words and actions that reflect God’s love, or I can nag and argue and stomp away angry and be like clanging cymbals.
God’s Photo Album of Love
Somewhere in heaven, I’m thinking God has a photo album filled with snapshots of His children demonstrating love to each other. Acts of kindness and love that have shown the world what true Christ-like love looks like in human form. (John 17:23-26) He lovingly turns the pages and points at the pictures and I’m pretty sure I hear Him say, “Yes, I see the family resemblance!”
What are the pictures my husband is capturing of me? Does my husband see Jesus in me?
God’s Photoshop
My ability to love like He loves needs some work. I want to upload the image of my life into His Photoshop program and allow Him to take away the imperfections that don’t show the family resemblance. It’s the only way my relationships and my marriage will truly have the look of love.
Starting this week, for the next 14 weeks I’ll be hosting on my blog an interactive study on Pursuing Love by examining 1st Corinthians 13:4-7. Please feel free to join in. You haven’t missed a thing as it just started February 1st. Together we will pursue love and hopefully bear the look of love more clearly.
On the 3rd Wednesday of each month I host a Marriage Q & A article right here on the marriage channel. If you have a question you’d like to ask regarding marriage, please feel free to email me at ExemplifyMarriageEditor@Gmail.com. All questions are confidential and I will only use your question (nameless of course) in an article if I have your permission to do so. I am a Biblical counselor, so my responses will be from the Word of God.
Marsha’s Bio:
Marsha lives deep in the woods of western North Carolina with the love of her life Mike, their dog Lucky, and an occasional bear that comes by for a visit. Married for 35 years, they are blessed with 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
She and her husband started Snowbird TEAM Ministries 12 years ago to reach the people of Appalachia for Christ. Her ministry is with at risk teen girls, pregnant teens and counseling women and children who have been abused. She knows and understands the shame and fear that fills the hearts of abused women and children.
Usually found with a camera nearby and a song on her lips, Marsha enjoys being out in God’s creation. It is her goal in life to live simply, laugh often and to love deeply.
She can be found daily at her blog, Marsha’s Musings. She is also the editor of Exemplify’s Marriage Channel.
Thanks, Marsha.
I like to think of that how God sees us through the lens of the cross.
I loved this Marsha. Thank you!
Beautiful, love this sis.
Marsha:
I like thinking about Jesus holding snapshots of our loving acts of kindness on this earth. Indeed, 1 Cor. 13 is the benchmark; how thankful I am for the Holy Spirit’s intervention on my behalf, enabling me to move toward a more perfect love in Jesus Christ. Without him, my efforts at loving fall quite short. Just ask my husband…
Great teaching. Keep to it.
peace~elaine
God’s love lens and His photo shop — how refreshing it is when everyone views themselves through the view and workmanship of GOD. Makes all the difference.
Thanks for sharing. Blessings and peace!
I love the idea of God’s Photoshop. So good! Great reminder for us, Marsha. Thank you!
Hugs!
Marsha,
Love this post. Thanks for the reminder to treat my hubby with love and care…even in those times when it is not easy to do. I know there are many times that I am not easy to love and so it goes both ways.
I hope that there are at least a few pics in God’s gallery of me treating others with love.
Leah