Many of us have heard of Gary Chapman's book, The Five Love Languages. These five languages actually provide five ways to demonstrate practical love in marriage. So today, instead of a to do list, make a "love in action" list and implement these five opportunities to show love.

1. Encourage your spouse verbally. This can be a good word about an accomplishment, a character trait, or how a new shirt "looks so good with your eyes."

2. Touch your spouse. This may seem like a no-brainer, but think about how much time goes by without touching—holding hands, hugging, a simple touch on the shoulder. Ever wonder why Jesus "touched" so many of those whom he healed—especially the lepers? Touch is a powerful extension of grace and says, "I love you."

3. Give him/her a simple gift. Some of us really enjoy receiving surprise gifts—even simple things like a note, a Reeses Butter Cup or a 1/2 gallon of his/her favorite ice cream. Mmm... 

4. Carve out special together time. Arrange a date night each week. This can be going out to dinner, or staying home and watching a movie on Netflix. And when you come home, why not hit the pause button on busyness and sit down on the sofa to just catch up and talk about the day?

5. Do something to help. Chapman calls this an "act of service." Doing the dishes. Making up the bed. Taking out the trash. Changing a lightbulb. Folding the clothes. Watering the garden. Changing a diaper. All of these small "acts" can say, "I love you."

Just make sure that in all of our doing, we do not become demanding. Doing these things well can make us self-righteous if we do them in order to get repaid. If that is the case, we are not extending grace, but creating a new law.  Think about it. Jesus did not reciprocate or respond to our attempts at goodness and love. In fact, 1 John 4:10 says, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." Therefore, in light of the gospel, let's not be love reciprocators, but love initiators—to the glory of God and for the good and joy of our marriages.