All people are to be in a relationship with God and each other. But there is one relationship that is in a class by itself. Marriage! When marriage is honored and respected, loyalty and faithfulness are the rewards, and unfaithfulness is no longer a reality. Marriage is a bonding that directs us to our following Wonderfully Weird Command: Honor Marriage.
Today's command is in Matthew 19:4-6 (NIV), Jesus said, "…at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." What I love about this passage is it's straightforward. The lessons of this passage are relevant to life, truthful in design, and apparent to those who are impartial to good direction and reality. Simply, these verses give three teachings: One, marriage is God's design. Two, marriage is between a man and a woman. Three, marriage is unfailing. Quickly let's examine each to understand how to "Honor Marriage."
First, marriage is God's design. He made it, and we cannot re-engineer it if we expect goodness and happiness to be our reality. God's plan for marriage is just and can be fulfilling and fruitful for anyone. However, the key, both parties involved must agree to God's model or face the sad truth of being meager and half-baked. A tragic reality where guilt, shame, and condemnation dwell. Let's choose to use God's grace and truth to freely thrive in our deepest and most intimate relationship in the LORD's plan.
Second, marriage is between a man and a woman. I will not belittle people with this lesson or attempt to defend it. God's integrity speaks for itself. My responsibility is not to prove God right or wrong; nature does that just fine, but to be loving and share the truth wholeheartedly. The truth is God made people with different body parts for a good reason; they fit nicely together to produce practical life. Also, God made things well to hold items together spiritually. Things like paying attention together, understanding each other, helping the other feel good, and having rhythm together. If we can join the practical and spiritual together, this lesson will be a fact of life, and God's design will be completely honored.
Our final lesson is marriage is unfailing and meant for a lifetime. For marriage to be satisfying, four areas grow together — trust, expectations, forgiveness, and character. When two people come together with these aspects of life, all challenges and issues can be embraced and resolved, no matter what. No matter what, to a more meaningful and deeper relationship with infinite pleasures and results.
All people are to be in relationships with God and others, but only one is to come together in the basics of God's plan, marriage. A connection made by God to create life, practically and spiritually. Today, I encourage everyone to be inspired by God's design and allow it to compel you to make the best choice ever. This choice will destroy unfaithfulness and respect Jesus' Wonderfully Weird Command, Honor Marriage.
With a loyal and faithful heart,