Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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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

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