Podcast: https://bit.ly/3KSn04n
Among Christians, it’s common this time of year to remind each other to “remember the reason for the season”. While we do many of the things the world does this time of year, for us, it’s more than a party. And hopefully what we do, and to a lesser extent do not do, is different from our secular neighbours.
What about remembering the reason for marriage? Christians do many of the things the world does with regard to marriage, but for us there’s more to it. And hopefully what we do and do not do in our marriages is different from our secular neighbours.
On the surface, it may seem the Bible says only a little about how to do marriage. However, beyond the well-known marriage passages, much of what Jesus commanded us to do in general should be applied to our marriages. Let’s look at a few examples of that, and how it would play out.
- “Do to others what you would have them do to you”: If we just did this, our marriages would be so much better. Sadly, we may treat our spouse worse than we treat our friends. We know our friends won’t put up with it, but our spouse will.
- “Turn the other cheek” & “Forgive seventy times seven”: Forgiving is not optional. Not even when our spouse has done whatever many times before. Forgiving does not mean no consequences, that’s a different issue.
- “Love your neighbour as yourself”: This means considering your spouse’s desires and priorities to be just as important as your own. When those clash with your desires and priorities, you have to work it out; you don’t just go with what you want.
- “Love your enemies”: Hopefully you don’t think your spouse is your enemy. But most husbands and wives do feel this way from time to time. We must go beyond our feelings and be kind and loving even when we are upset.
- “Judge not, that you be not judged”: Judgment is usually more than thinking “You were wrong”. Judgment often causes us to think, “I am better than you” and then use this to justify treating our spouse badly.
Christian marriage should look different. Not because we follow different rules, but because we’re empowered by a different love. The same Christ who saved us gives us the grace to treat each other the way He treats us.
~ This is Paul, and following the Bible helps us Do Marriage Well.
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This is what happens to Starlight mints when you freeze dry them!
They dissolve immediately in your mouth, giving a blast of mint flavour.
Image Credit: © Paul H Byerly created with ideogram.ai & Paul Byerly
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