Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

Holy Marriage - Lasting Life of Love

 Daniel Thomas
Orlando MTC
4 He answered, “Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
There is a saying that, "marriages are made in heaven."  But what happens now-a-days tell another story.  The bride and the groom repeat after the celebrant their vow, "I, (bride/groom) take you (groom/bride), to be my (husband/wife), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward until death do us part."  Then the subsequent events unfold, it seems that their vow was just a ceremonial repetition and not from their heart.
 The married life will become meaningful and authentic only when the couple live and grow together in Christ.  Someone once said the definition of a successful family this way:  "Each member lives for the other, and all of them serve the Lord."  Is this a reality in our Christian families today?
 One of the common reasons for the breakdown in married life is that we have forgotten God's commands about marriage.  "A man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife ... (Matt. 19:5-6).  Divorce was not part of God's original design, nor is it now.  The Bible clearly states, "I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel (Mal. 2:16).  Marriage is a symbol of the unity between Christ and His church - a unity that should never be torn by man.
 There are some important elements to a successful married life:  The first is love - not an emotional feeling or attachment for the other, but a deep commitment to put the other person first.  The Apostle Paul defined love beautifully in first Corinthians chapter 13.  Who will not respond to such a selfless expression of love?  If Christ is to have His rightful place in our lives, we must set aside self and selfishness, so He can be glorified.  Maturity is another one.  It means a willingness to act responsibly and not take the easy way out.  Too many are going for a divorce at the first sign of trouble.  Then the faith: marriage is difficult enough these days with all of life's pressures, but without Christ at the center of a marriage and a home, it becomes even more difficult.  It makes three, not two, to make a successful married life - husband, wife, and Christ. "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken". Ecclesiastes 4:12.

PRAYER

Loving Father, thank You for Your unmerited love.  Help us to practice this love in our family life. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
"When you put God first, you are establishing order for everything else in your life."  Andrea Garney

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more