One day you're living a care-free single life - can do what you want, go where you want, then the next you've fallen in love with the guy/gal of your
dreams. Wedding bells ring and before long you're married. Life has changed dramatically, because instead of having a life where all you have to think
about is YOU there's another person to think of. Times are shared, money is shared, cooking is shared (well in some cases). The couple starts to learn more
about each other - good habits, bad habits, annoying habits!
Marriage is a picture of Christ and His Bride, the Church! Christ loved His bride so uch that He chose her before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1) despite all her faults, failing, good habits, bad habits, sinful habits, annoying habits! His patience goes above and beyond all we could imagine or understand! Why does He love us? How does He show His love towards us? He loves us becaue He never wanted anyone to perish - Adam chose the fututre path of the human race when he took of the fruit and disobeyed God (Genesis 3), but God in all His love and wisdom decided to send His only begotten Son to earth to take the place of sinners! He lived the life we couldn't and died the death that we deserved! How much more could He love us? Well, now He's in glory preparing a place for His people! He sees them as a crown of glory and a royal diadem in His hand and He has clothed His people with a garment of salvation and a robe of righteousness (Isaiah 62:3; Isaiah ... )
When we marry we become ONE - one physically, emotionally and spiritually. Each of us may have our own ideas about how things are done, but we should have the strength and courage to listen to what each other has to say - without sulking if we dont agree, without pointing the finger if we think something isn't right. Holiness is living a life which glorifies God! Holiness is breaking down those barriers of anger, criticism towards each other, finger pointing, sulkiness. We must all live a life of repentence and prayer!
Want to see revival? Well the Lord won't send revival unless our lives are ones of repentence and forgiveness when our spouse does something wrong! Revival will come when we don't argue over silly things, when we don't ignore each other and become sulky when they do something we dont like, when we stop criticising one another, when we learn to listen and truly love one another in our homes! How do I know this? The Lord is doing a work in me at the moment - every part of my critical Spirit I want to cast at the foot of the cross and have Jesus replace it with words of love and kindness, every intolerant thought I have about anyone I want the Lord to replace it with thoughts of love, peace, joy, blessing, when I don't like what Alan wants to do I want the Lord to show me that He created Alan to be an individual. I want to Trust in the Lord with ALL my heart - not just with the bits that are easy, no, in ALL things!
The Lord loves you and wants to see you all grow in grace and stature as believers, but Satan hates you and wants to see your marriages fail and fall apart around you! So who do you serve Christ or Satan! If Christ then show Him how much you care for each other - if you have to say sorry for anything don't let pride get in the way - say sorry to each other, for the way you've spoken to one another, or the way you've ignored each other! Read and pray together ask for God's forgiveness! Want to serve Satan? Well just argue, get sulky with one another, criticise each other, tear one another apart etc and think of Satan egging you on because he sure wants your marriage to fail - he wants to see the picture of Christ and His Bride collapse!
Marriage is a picture of Christ and His Bride, the Church! Christ loved His bride so uch that He chose her before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1) despite all her faults, failing, good habits, bad habits, sinful habits, annoying habits! His patience goes above and beyond all we could imagine or understand! Why does He love us? How does He show His love towards us? He loves us becaue He never wanted anyone to perish - Adam chose the fututre path of the human race when he took of the fruit and disobeyed God (Genesis 3), but God in all His love and wisdom decided to send His only begotten Son to earth to take the place of sinners! He lived the life we couldn't and died the death that we deserved! How much more could He love us? Well, now He's in glory preparing a place for His people! He sees them as a crown of glory and a royal diadem in His hand and He has clothed His people with a garment of salvation and a robe of righteousness (Isaiah 62:3; Isaiah ... )
When we marry we become ONE - one physically, emotionally and spiritually. Each of us may have our own ideas about how things are done, but we should have the strength and courage to listen to what each other has to say - without sulking if we dont agree, without pointing the finger if we think something isn't right. Holiness is living a life which glorifies God! Holiness is breaking down those barriers of anger, criticism towards each other, finger pointing, sulkiness. We must all live a life of repentence and prayer!
Want to see revival? Well the Lord won't send revival unless our lives are ones of repentence and forgiveness when our spouse does something wrong! Revival will come when we don't argue over silly things, when we don't ignore each other and become sulky when they do something we dont like, when we stop criticising one another, when we learn to listen and truly love one another in our homes! How do I know this? The Lord is doing a work in me at the moment - every part of my critical Spirit I want to cast at the foot of the cross and have Jesus replace it with words of love and kindness, every intolerant thought I have about anyone I want the Lord to replace it with thoughts of love, peace, joy, blessing, when I don't like what Alan wants to do I want the Lord to show me that He created Alan to be an individual. I want to Trust in the Lord with ALL my heart - not just with the bits that are easy, no, in ALL things!
The Lord loves you and wants to see you all grow in grace and stature as believers, but Satan hates you and wants to see your marriages fail and fall apart around you! So who do you serve Christ or Satan! If Christ then show Him how much you care for each other - if you have to say sorry for anything don't let pride get in the way - say sorry to each other, for the way you've spoken to one another, or the way you've ignored each other! Read and pray together ask for God's forgiveness! Want to serve Satan? Well just argue, get sulky with one another, criticise each other, tear one another apart etc and think of Satan egging you on because he sure wants your marriage to fail - he wants to see the picture of Christ and His Bride collapse!
