Love is a precious gift that can not be bought. However, we can trade it for something much cheaper and of no value and that is what Adam and Eve did. They traded the gift that God had given to them of living in and experiencing His love for doing something that He never intended for them to do. Instead of loving each other they became accuser’s. They now felt the need to blame someone for their problems.
And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:11-13
Was it really Eve’s fault that Adam ate the fruit? No, he knew what he was doing.
And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. I Timothy 2:14
Eve was deceived by the devil and she fell into transgression. For this reason, the Lord had to give her another command and that was that now, rather than ruling equally with Adam, he was to rule over her. This new command was for her protection so that she would not continue to be deceived and sin, so that nothing worse would befall her.
Yet your desire will be for your husband,
And he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:16b
Rather than being like the Lord, who is love, they became like the one whose word they trusted and obeyed and that was the devil, who also is an accuser.
Those who make them will become like them,
Everyone who trusts in them. Psalm 115:8
Sin will destroy marriages faster than anything else. With sin comes guilt and with guilt comes the need to blame and with blame, it is always someone else’s fault.
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. I John 1:8
However, when each person own’s up to their own sin and confesses their own sin to the Lord then the Lord forgives and cleanses us from all of our sin.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9
When our hearts are cleansed then we will see the Lord again and we will want to love and forgive as He has loved and forgiven us.
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. Mark 11:25
You might wonder, “how many times do I need to forgive?”. This same question was asked of Jesus.
Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21,22
Love is forgiving and forgiving some more. This is how the Lord loves us and we are to love as He has loved us.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34
How to Find and Keep Love 