GPS to a Joyful Marriage

The sixth chapter of Ephesians talks about the relationships between children and their parents, and slaves and their masters.  Verse 1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”  Verse 2 says, “Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise - that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” It seems simple and clear to me that we should obey our parents as children and honor them as we get older.   However, disobedience and dishonor of parents goes back to Biblical times, and we need to take this call to honor our parents seriously.  God meant it so seriously that we are promised a long life on earth for our obedience and honor to our parents. Verse 4 tells us, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Before I turned my life around, and my children were small, my son and I had the tendency to “exasperate” each other. (I know

Ephesians 5:32 says, “This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church.” The idea of the church as the bridegroom of Christ is not a concept that is easily grasped.  I personally believe that God intended the comparison (Christ and the church - husband and wife) to show us the ultimate importance of the marriage relationship. What could possibly be greater than Christ’s love for us, His followers (the church)?  That is His desire for marriage, that we hold it sacred and love it above all else. The church, here, is not the building, or congregation or fellowship hall.  The church is God’s people.  He loved His people so much that He sent His only son, Jesus, to die for our sins.  What could be more passionate than that? Do you feel that passionate about your marriage?  Would you do anything for its survival, to make it right?  Even more so, the husband is the one called to treat his wife as Christ does the church.  If the wife is taken care of as Christ t

Dear Friends - My apologies, this was scheduled to automatically post this past Monday--but didn't.  I've been out of town the past month and haven't had regular internet usage.   So sorry.  Here's the posting for this week.  Will be back in Florida tomorrow. Ephesians 5:25-27 tell us, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Christ died on the cross for our sins. He died, or gave Himself up for the church. Men are called to give themselves up for their wives. This is a lot more difficult task and a much greater level of devotion than women are called to make. Submissiveness is reciprocal in the marriage relationship. We can’t forget that. When a man only demands submission from his wife and gives nothing in return, he wil

Ephesians 4:29-5:20 basically tell us how to live as Christians. Even more so, these ‘rules’ should apply to our marriages. Somehow, many Christians seem to think their marriage relationship is exempt from the rules in the Bible that refer to dealing with other people. Our spouses and our families are the ones we should hold in the highest esteem and treat them better than anyone else. We often fail to do that. Eph. 4:32 says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” If we would always strive to treat our spouse this way, there would be no divorce. I don’t think we understand how important forgiveness is. Matthew 6:14-15 says, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Remember, unforgiveness is like taking poison and hoping it will kill the other person. It will do you more harm than th