For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 2 Peter 1:5-7
“Sweethearts who have been wise enough to share their love with God have found it incomparably more wonderful. Since “God is Love” He is in deepest sympathy with every fond whisper and look. Husbands and wives, too, give rapturous testimony of homes transformed by praying silently when together. In some cases where they had begun to give each other “nerves,” they have found, after playing this game when they are alone together by day or by night, that their love grew strangely fresh, rich, beautiful, “like a new honeymoon.” God is the maker of all true marriages, and He gives His highest joy to a man and wife who share their love for each other with Him, who pray inwardly each for the other when they are together looking into one another’s eyes. Married love becomes infinitely more wonderful when Christ is the bond every minute and it grows sweeter as the years go by to the very last day. Imagine, too, what this does for the children!”
Frank C. Laubach (1884-1970) in Letters By A Modern Mystic (Feedbooks: 2009) letter entitled, “God and Love.”
I want to start by thanking my wife, Jenni, for directing me to this book. She has helped me understanding the “game of minutes” which she plays as good as anyone.
If you are reading this and you have not read recent posts you might be wondering what the “game of minutes” is. When we fix our thoughts on Christ every minute, we invite Him into every aspect of our lives.
When we see others and pray for them, it changes our interaction with others. When we do different activities, we do them with Christ. It changes both us and the outcome of the activity. Some moments I succeed and others I fail, but I am learning.
Here Laubach invites us to bring this game into our home. Of course it should start at home and spread from there. Think about it. Giving each other love is better than giving each other nerves.
Imagine if we all had a testimony of this! What does Christ want for our marriages? I am convinced this is the kind of activity Peter had on his mind when he wrote today’s Scripture passage.