Monday, June 12, 2017

The Purpose of Marriage – Part 1


Revelation 19:7-8 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

While other small group Bible studies take a break for the summer, our Wednesday night group continues year-round fellowship and topical Christian studies to broaden our knowledge of the Lord, deepen our faith and improve our earthly inter-personal relationships on this side of eternity for Christ’s sake. Last week, we began a new video series on “Marriage Relationships”. Michael Low open the session with biblical background of the God-created institution of true marriage and facilitated the discussion around the first conference Speaker Gary Thomas’ presentation.

Hebrews 13:4a Marriage should be honored by all.”


He pointed out that the images we have of ourselves are formed very early in life. And that the forced intimacy of marriage will result in spiritual challenges. Frustration in marriage results in our seeing ourselves with futility and guilt. But, that is not what God intended when He created man & woman. Yet, marriage is not to serve Jesus Christ, but to serve like Jesus Christ. God designed marriage to make us holy, even more than to make us happy.  IT teaches us how to forgive sin and to take on the nature of Jesus Christ himself. The difficult times of marriage God uses to craft our soul and to shape our spirit.   

Genesis 2:20b-24 But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

The Apostle James, half-brother of Jesus Christ, said in James 3:2 “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” We are often blinded to our own sins while pointing out the sins of our spouse. Gary Thomas says that the term “difficult marriage” is redundant. All marriages are difficult and must be continually maintained and improved upon. Know that God has a divine intention for the difficulties in marriages. It is not the “How to”, but rather the “heart to” that matters. Anyone can learn the “how to do something”, but if they do not have the “heart to” do it, then what is the purpose and where is the joy and happiness?   


Let’s continue this message on the God-created marriage relationship on the next post. In Christ, Brian

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