November 2009

Linda and I had a great anniversary celebration this past month with over 25 other couples from Valley who joined us for "An Evening to Strengthen Our Marriage." It was a great evening of cake (too much), God’s Word (never enough), and good fellowship in relationship building as we seek to support each other in our marriages.

We noted from God’s Word in Genesis 1:26-27 that God created people and placed them on the earth to be his "image" and "likeness," to represent him on the earth. He did this by creating humans "male and female." God created marriage. It was his idea. He was the first "Father of the bride." And he gave meaning to marriage in 2:24. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and they shall be one flesh." There is something about the marriage relationship that represents God in a way that either male or female cannot do by itself.

God looks for the same from the Church, the body of Christ. Jesus prayed in John 17:21 "that they may all be one just as you Father are in me and I in you that they also may be in us." If we look at the relationship of the Father God and the Son Jesus for our model for relationship in our marriage and our church, what would we see? What does this kind of oneness mean?

I think it means at a minimum three things.
1. There is a common mind and purpose. They are both "on the same page." John 4:34. "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work."
2. There is an unqualified love for each other. John 3:35 "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand."
3. There is an ongoing togetherness in their mission. The Father reveals it and Jesus carried it out in his ministry even though it meant he would die. Luke 22:42 "Father if you are willing remove this cup (of death) from me. Nevertheless not my will but yours be done."

The result of this is a great joy in their relationship. For us in marriage and in the church it becomes a witness to the world so that the world may believe. May God help us to have that kind of oneness in our marriages and in our church to His glory!