“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21 NIV)

How important is your marriage? Is it something that you have but not think a lot about?  Is it something that nags at you, like an open wound?  Is it something that brings you pain, sorrow? 

Or is your marriage something you cannot live without; with someone you cannot live without? Is it the joy in the morning? Is your marriage relationship the closest, deepest living relationship you have on this planet?  It should be.

Our marriage needs to be stronger, healthier and more important than any other relationship we have outside of our relationship with Christ. Our marriage, the covenant we made with that one person, to love, honor, and treasure; in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad; this is the test.  Can we shine Christ through this most important relationship; and if we can’t, what makes us think we can with other, less important relationships?

So, friends, if your marriage is weak, strengthen it. If your marriage is difficult, show grace through it. If your marriage is in trouble, fight for it. Our marriage is the relationship that our children base all their relationships on.  It’s more important than one man and one woman. It’s implications are generational.  Women, don’t take the place God gave you lightly.  Your first ministry is your husband, then your children.  Raise good, godly children through the strength and the love of your marriage.  Men, likewise, take heed what God said by loving your wife as Christ loves the church. It is a huge responsibility as so much rides on your initial attitude toward the union.

The only way to change the world is by strengthening marriage, thereby affecting children so they make good godly choices. 

Father, I stand before you today, promising to love my spouse, to show grace and love and patience.  By doing this Lord, my prayer is that my children see what a healthy marriage looks like so they can create healthy relationships, eventually finding someone they can spend forever with.  Thank you Lord for marriage. Thank you for giving me a biblical example to follow.

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