Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him and he disappeared from their sight. (Luke 24:31)

After we have been married for sometime, though we still love each other dearly, the humdrum of day-to-day living lulls us into taking each other for granted. Though we are loving, steady and dependable, but the romance has gone.

Then, some outsider shocks us with pleasant surprise by heaping accolades on our spouse. This maybe from their workplace, coworkers, superiors, or some award they get at their workplace for their sincere hardworking. This brings swelling pride about our spouse but at the same time we wonder why we didn’t notice this side of our spouse. Did they act differently at work, or were we just not seeing what had been there the whole time?

Cleopas and his friend, who were walking to Emmaus two days after Jesus was crucified and buried, had a bit of the same problem. A great teacher who had promised so much had been arrested, beaten, crucified and buried. Now his body was missing. Certainly they were not expecting that the man who joined them on the road was that very man-Jesus.

They didn’t acknowledge Jesus as Messiah either- likely because they were disillusioned that the one they had expected to deliver their nation from Roman rule was now dead. But they didn’t have a clue that He was Savior of the world.

But until they broke bread with Jesus and the Spirit of God opened their eyes, these men were blind to Jesus’ true identity.

Isn’t that the case with many of us today, in both marriage and our walk with Christ?

Only when our eyes are focused on Him as our Savior can we begin to truly appreciate a spouse who also believes in Christ. When we study the gracious attitudes and actions that Christ pours out on His church – loving, caring, cherishing, submitting even to death – we ask ourselves “how does my spouse show these same attributes to me and to others?” Have I shown appreciation for those Christlike qualities being lived out in him? Am I being Christlike to him/her?

It’s easy to become so self-absorbed that we fail to recognize the qualities and gifts of the person who is closest to us in life. In becoming blind to those attributes however we miss some great opportunities to build on each other’s strengths.

Let us pray for open eyes before sickness, loss, separation – or accolades from others – force us to pay attention.

LET’S TALK

1. What attributes in each other have we sometimes taken for granted that others have helped us see?
2. What qualities of Christ do I see working in you?
3. What are some ways we can keep our eyes open, keeping Christ the central focus of our marriage?

Let’s remember, a little appreciation of each other, goes a long way in our marriage. Let’s be lavish in appreciating our spouse to strengthen our relationship.