Marriage: loving as God loves



Marriage.  It has been on the forefront on my mind for several weeks while helping a friend with final wedding prep.  I've always thought and looked at marriage as a unique, special and amazing way to represent the reign of God!  On Friday the Supreme Court made a monumental decision...on Saturday, two believers entered into a covenantal union as husband and wife in one of the most Christ-centered ceremonies I've attended {not surprising since the bride's father, a pastor, officiated}.  

 Over the course of Friday and Saturday FB exploded.  Some good, some bad and some just not sure what to think or how to respond.  

 My heart aches for those who struggle with knowing who and Whose they are.  My heart aches with those who want a relationship.  My heart aches with those who want to love and be loved.  I get it.  I really do.  

 I resonate with Benjamin Watson​ as he says, 
"Today, I am not disappointed because of the possible restrictions on religious exercise, the inevitable categorization of biblical teaching as hate speech and pastors as bigots, the shift in American culture, its implications and the judicial and legislative process that has brought us to this point. I am, however, saddened because of the corporate celebration and glorification of sin which renders us separated from our Creator, exposed to the natural consequences of our actions and in desperate need of a spiritual renewal and revival."   
I too so badly want them to know the one, true, triune, creator, redeemer God, but I cannot force them.  I cannot make them see.  The inability to help frustrates and saddens me.  
However, I can do something.  As Mike Wittmer​ said recently on his blog, 
"This is an exciting, important time to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Our lost culture needs us now more than ever. We don’t have to be spectacular to stand out. Just love our spouses, raise godly children, and generally have our act together, and we should have plenty of opportunities to help those who are living against the grain."  
Obedience to God and His Word are the two major keys.  I know I'm going to mess up.  I know my life still has sin, but my goal is to strive to live my life as authentically, biblically and holy as possible.  

  • Ready to love with God's definition of love {which will not be easy}.  
  • Ready to forgive.  
  • Ready to serve.  
  • Ready to listen.  
  • Ready to do whatever is asked of me which could bring Glory to God and help His people flourish.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Perspective

Sometimes prespective comes out of nowhere...and usually unexpected or unsolicited! I suppose since I'm reading the book ( One Thousand Gifts ), the thought of gratefulness should have been expected, but yet it still seemed to hit me upside the head.   Really?   I should live with an attitude of gratefulness?                                Will that really make me feel better about life?                                Will all my troubles just vanish?                                Will I suddenly see world peace?   Okay, so my expectations were a little out of reach. However, if your attitude changes, doesn't your perspective? As I continue to read this book...I feel convicted.  Not just a little pang of "yikes, I ...
Read more

The Purposeful Life of a Carrot

Image
As we approach summer, plants are nestled into the dark soil, seeds are pushed deep below the surface and pesky weeds are plucked & tossed.  Similar to this process, we were placed by God's design into the sphere {garden} of influence we now occupy. As followers of Christ we want to flourish and we want to grow.  Unfortunately there are times when along with the good seeds there are some seeds of dissatisfaction that get dropped.  We begin to see that the tomatoes have a trellis to climb or that the strawberries can fan out over the ground and here we {I} am just a carrot who gets to pop my little green sprout up just in time to be plucked from the earth. Often these seeds of dissatisfaction can almost look like good things.  The fact that I am unmarried when I desire to be married.  To be joined to another person so that life can be lived together, challenge each other, spur each other on.  The fact that I do not have children a...
Read more

A New Year...a Semi-BIG year!

Image
The new year came in pretty quiet but for the roar of panic in my heart for what is to come.  I hadn't realized I was dreading this year until January 1st arrived and the roar in my heart got even louder {like Boeing 757 loud}. Main reason...I will turn 40! However, now a few days into 2015, the roar has quieted.  I realized I will not instantly grow an enormous amount of wrinkles and the grey hair is still covered, so I now to breathe, rest, and anticipate.  Rather than anticipate with dread, I'm choosing to anticipate with joy and excitement. I will never have this year again I will never turn this age again I will never be in this stage of life again So, I will embrace it fully and entirely...good and bad. My desire is to relish in each day and make memories! A list of 40 things I will make,    some silly,    some serious,    some ambitious,    some easy But none the less, it will be a list to spring me into the next dec...
Read more