Marriage is a beautiful union between a man and a woman, and God has a lot to say about it. I want to delve into this topic with our community because I believe that when we can understand how the marriage relationship is supposed to work, then we can truly understand it and experience the bliss that God intended for it to have.
My husband and I have been married for almost twelve years and I can say that we've had our share of ups and downs, easy seasons and hard, and marathons and sprints. From the beginning we decided to keep two things in the center; that Jesus is first and there is no other option than working things out.
When I see articles about marriage, it seems like we can tend to stay on the negative side because obviously, marriage is hard work! However, I cannot stress enough that if we only factor the hardships of marriage we can never rest our eyes on the blissful times of marriage. Of course, some of us have never experienced that, but if we can identify how God views marriage and what it's supposed to be, we can then put an expectation out there that will be realistic and that will work.
The ultimate underlying piece of marriage is love, and you might say, "well of course!" But I'm talking about agape love, the God kind of love. The love that says no matter how you treat me, I'm still going to love you. No matter what I need, I'm going to make sure to meet your needs as best I can.
I will go ahead and admit, I am a work in progress, but for those of us who have declared Jesus as Lord and Savior, that kind of love resides on the inside of us and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we are capable of loving this way. This kind of love definitely goes against the grain according to our cultural attitude, but it is the only one that Christ operates by.
To begin our study and fun concerning this topic, I want to drop some scripture off for your reflection:
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 1 John 4:12
Love is a choice, but God gave us a guideline as to what love is. Allow the Lord to bring some things to light within you as you endeavor to grow in Him specifically in the area of marriage. And if you're not married, ask the Lord to help you in your love walk with others. How you treat others, will help you practice in how you treat your future spouse.
Comment suggestions:
Are you married?
How long have you been married?
Do you have any questions?
Have an amazing Wednesday!! If you have a church that you call home, make sure to set aside time to go to service tonight -- if your church has a service tonight. Going to church will strengthen your relationship with your spouse as well as your personal growth, and the spiritual influence of your children. Your attendance will not only encourage your pastor, but will bring joy to those around you and will fill you up with the Word so that you can LOVE the community around you!
4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right andtruth prevail.
7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy ([a]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP
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