The shortest
distance between two places is a straight line. The problem usually lies in the
fact that many of us will not take the straight line. We get in our own way in making our life and marriage better. We wonder from place to
place or person to person seeking our perfect marriage. We listen to too many
voices and do not listen to God's voice (The Holy Spirit) when He speaks to us.
The children of
Israel went around the same mountain range for 40 years before getting to the
Promise Land. If they had traveled in a straight line it would have been an 11
day journey. An entire generation had to die off before they could go in. So
what went wrong? Their lack of faith, then continuing to murmur and complaining
kept them from achieving what God had for their lives. They were not far from
Egypt when they cried out to Moses to take them back so they would not starve. The
Israelites believed it was better to remain slaves in Egypt with adequate food
than be on a tough journey to the place God set aside for them. They murmured
and complained about the lack of food and then complained about the food
itself. Their faith was not there when they gathered up more than one days
supply of food - the bread worms came and at the excess food.
So, what is the
more excellent way for your marriage? Love. The kind of love that God has for
us and the same love we are to have for our bride. In 1 Corinthians 12:31, Paul
says, "But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the
most excellent way." Paul has just described the Spiritual Gift from the
Holy Spirit and then how it takes each of us to do the entire work God has laid
out. It is no coincidence that the Love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, is
sandwiched between two chapters where Paul gives introduction and instruction
on the Spiritual Gifts. We must use them in our marriage every day. "Be
self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring
lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8. It is impossible for us
to meet the conditions of the day, to "walk in the light as He is in the
light" 1 John 1:7, to subdue kingdoms and work righteousness and bind the
power of Satan, unless we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
Your marriage is
a journey to God’s Promise Land. Your marriage is to be a reflection of Jesus’
love for us. We must love our spouse even during the most difficult days of our
marriage. Remember, love is an active choice, an action. A conjunction junction
if you will. (Yes, from the old Saturday morning cartoons) It connects us to
our spouse in the way God designed. Yes, there will be days, or maybe several
in a row, when our spouse is "unlovable". Our spouses loving or
unloving actions do not give us the right to stop loving them. That is when we
are to love them even more. Put more actions in effect during these trying
times.
1 Corinthians
13:4-8 tells us what love is. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not
envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not
self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does
not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always
trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." We need to
remember that God is love. You can read these scriptures aloud and say God
instead of love and you still have the truth. There have been times in my
marriage when I was not one or more of these towards my bride. I asked her to
forgive me and I asked God to forgive me and help me not do them again. It will
work for you too. With His power upon you there can be no failure. God desires
that His Word will be established in our hearts; and, as we believe His Word,
we will see that "all thing are possible" Matthew 19:26.
Many marriages
are in the midst of a great river of life but are dying of thirst because they
do not dip down and take it. It's time to jump into the deep end of the river
and have faith in God to restore and renew your marriage.
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