When we spend our marriage as equal partners, laying down our life for one another and preferring each other, we experience “one flesh” as a reality (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31). If we neglect each other, fill our schedules with busyness, and fail to plan times to have fun with each other, we slowly grow apart.
Putting God first in our individual life and then praying together to seek His will for us as a couple helps us to remedy this situation (Hebrews 11:9-12; 1 Peter 3:6). Exhibiting compassion, appreciation, patience, and love for one another also helps us to grow together as one flesh.
We can draw our vision of a successful marriage from God’s Word (Ephesians 5:22-23; Colossians 3:18-19). We see examples of this type of relationship in couples like Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:1-17; Romans 16:3-5). They worked together in tent making, lived together in unison, and ministered together as a team even during times of persecution and adversity (Acts 18:18-19, 23, 26; 1 Corinthians 16:19).
Spending time together in God’s Word enlightens and sanctifies our mind, encourages our peace and joy, fuels our perseverance in the ways of the Lord, and deepens our intimacy with God (Psalm 19:7-10). We meditate all day on what we read together, and we chat about it during the time we make to fashion memories as a couple.
Marriage relationships often reveal to us our true sinful nature and habits. It gives us the opportunity to daily crucify our flesh (Galatians 5:24; Romans 8:13-14). Christian love comes from our love for God, and spills from our heart to bless our mate, our family, our church family, our community, and our worldwide influence (Galatians 6:10).
Prayer:
Father God, teach us to serve one another as an outpouring of our love for You. Help us by constantly making us aware of our mate’s needs, and to readily help them in any way that we are able. Show us our shortcomings that hinder our relationship and help us to willingly change our habits and hang-ups to promote a better connection between us as husband and wife.
Humble our pride that will not allow us to admit our faults or to apologize to our mate when we hurt them by our words or actions (1 Corinthians 13:4; Proverbs 16:5; James 4:6). Help us to remember that neither of us is perfect nor always right because we are both human (Ephesians 5:33). Teach us not to over-react, but to gain all the facts from our mate and to pray about every issue before making any judgment or decision.
Thought for the Day:
As our marriage cherishes one another and glorifies God, we exemplify Jesus’ love for His bride in mutual submission as co-heirs with Jesus; this starts with our dependence on God, accepting one another just as we are, and our humility with and continual forgiveness of one another.
- Romans 8:17; Ephesians 5:21-6:4
