3 in 1: The christian relationship

by Rapha Abreu·June 12, 2025·3 min read

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This month of June, on the 12th, we celebrate Valentine’s Day in Brazil.

Today, I want to take a moment to talk about this day full of love, where we see so many beautiful actions and happy people sharing their lives.

One Purpose

“For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

Genesis 2:24

Christian dating is not a time for passing time but a phase of building and purpose. It is the beginning of a journey that aims for unity, commitment, and a reflection of God’s love. When two hearts unite under God’s direction, they not only share feelings but also align themselves with Heaven’s purpose for their lives. Dating is the soil where, with care and intention, the seed of a blessed marriage is planted.

Preparation for marriage starts with self-awareness, mutual care, and respect for each other’s limitations. It is a time when God shapes, corrects, and strengthens the hearts so that, at the right time, two lives can walk as one. Christian dating does not ignore challenges, but chooses to face them with prayer, dialogue, and true love.

A Cord of Three Strands

“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:12

Relationships with Christ at the center are like the cord of three strands mentioned in Ecclesiastes 4:12: strong, resilient, and supported by something greater than fleeting emotions. A relationship rooted in God understands that His presence is the link that unites, directs, and heals. He is the balance when patience is lacking, the strength when fatigue sets in, and the love when flaws appear.

The commitment to walk with God together in dating brings sanctification. The couple seeks purity, not out of fear or religiosity, but because they understand that body, mind, and heart belong to the Lord. It is a relationship that glorifies God both in secret and in public, where the couple prays together, dreams together, and sanctifies themselves for the future that is being prepared.

Within a relationship, we must give ourselves to one another, prioritize the construction of something greater between the two. Therefore, while there is the moment of receiving from one another, it is also necessary for both sides to give, renunciations that perfect us individually and as a couple.

How Christ Loved the Church

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
1 Corinthians 13:4

The greatest example of love we have is Christ’s love for His bride, the Church. He gave Himself, cared for, forgave, sustained, and continues to love with incomparable faithfulness. This is the standard that Christian dating should pursue. Not a love that demands perfection, but a love that covers a multitude of wrongs, that chooses daily to care, forgive, and begin again.

In dating and marriage, true love is not the absence of flaws but the constant decision to love despite them. A healthy relationship recognizes that both are in process, being perfected by the Holy Spirit. The love that comes from God is patient, kind, does not boast, and keeps no record of wrongs. It is this love we need to pursue.

If you are in a relationship, take care of it. Regardless of the date, recognize the grace of being with someone in a place where there is love, care, and respect. If you are not, continue to place God at the center, and when you love Him first, all other things align at the right time. For all: prepare yourselves for everything God has prepared for your next steps, both individually and together, and trust in Him and His unique and complete love.