Happily Ever After: Devotions from Time of GraceSample

When You’re Newlyweds: Kindness

Have you ever noticed that when people are believers in Christ, God treats them like spiritual adults (whether or not they’ve deserved it)? He doesn’t call us fools, criminals, disappointments, or failures, though in many ways we have earned all of those labels. No. He treats us better than we deserve.

“As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with . . . kindness” (Colossians 3:12). You are chosen--that means that he cared enough for you to come and find you. You are holy--washed in the blood of Jesus, you are now considered to be as pure and holy as Christ himself. You are dearly loved--how valuable he thinks you are!

As he has treated us better than we deserve, he now invites you to put on the marriage garment of kindness. You can speak words that don’t cut your husband down but build him up. You can go first in doing things for her, being extra nice when she’s crabby. You can always assume the best possible explanation when he says or does something you don’t understand, rather than leaping to the worst possible conclusion.

Are you afraid that you don’t have it in you to be that nice? You probably don’t. Draw energy and inspiration from Christ and the way in which he treats you.