Word for Today, Fri, 10 Sep 2004: Marriage Building Words
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Today's devotional message comes Crosswalk.com, which provides Email and
Web based devotional messages, several Bible translations, and various
resources for Christians and other seekers. The message that follows is
a message from Adrian Rogers. It contains a simple lesson derived directly
from the scriptures.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
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Live It!
Today's best advice for practical Christian living
Seven Words That Can Build a Marriage
By Adrian Rogers
Love and marriage are wonderful. Actually, they are miracles. But the
great miracle is not love at first sight. The great miracle is love
after a long, long look. So, how do you keep the "honey" in the
honeymoon? How do you keep the excitement, the thrill, there? How do you
have the kind of home that God wants you to have? May I give you seven
simple words based on 1 Peter 3:1-10?
Faith - Verse five of the text mentioned above discusses the need to
trust in God: "For after this manner in the old time the holy women
also, who trusted in God . . . " Ecclesiastes 4:12 puts it this way: "A
threefold cord is not quickly broken." The man, the woman, and God make
up the threefold cord that binds our homes together. You'll never have a
successful home apart from God, and you'll never know God as you ought
without faith.
Acceptance - Verse one lays out God's plan for the home: "Likewise, ye
wives, be in subjection to your own husbands." The devil has tried to
obliterate the differences between the sexes. Under the guise of making
men and women equal, he's tried to make them the same. Men and women are
equal before God, but equality of worth is not the sameness of function.
Each of us must accept our God-given roles. Then, you will experience
blessings when you follow God's plan for your home.
Contentment - Verse three reminds us not to get caught up in outward
appearances: "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of
plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel."
The secret of contentment is to learn that you can get along without
almost anything except God and one another. If you have that, you have
all you need to be content.
Forgiveness - In verse nine, Peter says, "Not rendering evil for evil,
or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are
thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." Tornados are
terrible and earthquakes are horrible, but termites destroy more homes
than anything else. Likewise, it's that little spirit of bitterness,
that unwillingness to forgive, or that spirit that carries a grudge that
will get your home. Sometimes the wife has to practice it and sometimes
the husband, but learn to forgive.
Communication - Verse ten says, "For he that will love life, and see
good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they
speak no guile." In Proverbs 18:21 we also read, "Death and life are in
the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit
thereof." You need to learn to communicate. Just as important, you need
to plan to communicate. Make time for it. Everyone ought to plan four
dates.
. Plan a date with God. - Have a quiet time with Him every day.
. Plan a date with your kids. - Spend time with each child or grandchild
personally.
. Plan a date with yourself. - Get alone, pray, or just meditate.
. Plan a date with your spouse. - Get out of the house and just love one
another.
Romance - In verse seven dwell means to "live together" or "share," and
it speaks of romance. "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according
to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel,
and as being heirs together of the grace of life". Never let the physical
part of your marriage grow cold. Your spouse is someone precious. You
need to honor the person that you're married to. One way to give honor
is a sincere compliment. You give honor not only privately, but
publicly. Keep the romance, the joy, and the excitement in your
relationship.
Prayer - Finally, verse seven: "that your prayers be not hindered." Pray
through your marriage. Psalm 127:1 says, "Except the Lord build the
house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain." It's more than a trite expression that
the family that prays together, stays together. It is vital that you
learn to pray together.
Now you say, "That's a very strange thing because you have given us
seven words about having a successful home, but you never mentioned
love." Friend, all of these are facets of love. As these seven words are
lived out and become actions, they will speak love and will build up
your marriage.
For more great articles and resources to help you grow in your faith,
visit: link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.11.26166.1.293748
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Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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