Well hello there my friend and thank you for joining me today. I gotta say, today is double extra special. Want to know why? Well, first, as you might already know, we're here to talk about the teachings of Jesus, of God, and that's something that always excite me. Studying God's word together is always a special thing. Second, today is my wife's B-day! Kind of a coincidence that her B-day falls on the same day that this post is to air 😃 As a happy husband, I thought to myself... what should I talk about for today that has some sort of application to the fact that is my wife's b-day... and I got it! Today we're talking about commitment, yes, that's what it takes to make a marriage work and enjoy the "little moments" in life with you spouse. Good?
1st thing 1st...
What kind of a husband I would be if I don't take some space and time to wish my beautiful wife a much deserved Happy Birthday? Well, here it goes!
Happy B-Day you beautiful!!!!!
My wish is that God grants me many many more of your birthdays with you next to me ❤️
2nd... Marriage, Commitment & the Bible
The first marriage ever registered in the Bible was performed by none other than God Himself which makes God the One who created marriage. Marriage is a divine institution and is meant for so much more than what marriage looks like today in modern society. Amongst the many things that we as a society do wrong in a marriage, lack of commitment features kind of at the top and it's what we'll focus our attention on today. The Bible says in the book of Genesis:
"...and the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of Man.' Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." - Genesis 2:21-24
The first time the word "wife" and, by inference the word "husband", appears in the Bible we find talks about how this newly formed institution, marriage, was to work as if they both were one. Do you think nowadays marriages work and function as one? Some might, but certainly not the majority. As a married person, I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I myself don't operate as "one" with my wife but I'll also admit this, when I do, is just the best feeling in the world. Having that someone that I know I can count on, trust and that will always look out for my best interest is just an unparalleled feeling that God intended for every person on this planet to have. God is love, and absolutely everything He designed and created for us was for us to experience love, love and more love. Nature is designed to give us peace and, in a way, show love for us, our parents are to love us, our friends/brothers/sisters are to love us, we are to love each other, our spouses are to love us and of course, God loves us. Today we're far from that God-given and designed love down here:
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." - 1 Corinthians 13:1-7
Friend, in a marriage "feelings" and "love" don't always go hand-in-hand... often times they even differ by a great deal. Love is a voluntary commitment that regardless of how much good or bad we get in return, we choose to give and do good. Feelings are often times just the "spur of the moment". We need to be careful not to ever confuse love and just the "feeling good at the moment" part of it. When we begin any sort of romantic relationship with anyone, we all feel good and butterflies in the stomach and people in general think that that is what love looks like; well, that's not love but excess of hormones in the brain that make us feel good just like a drug may do. When people confuse the two, you get marriages where one year down the line they say "they don't love each other anymore because they don't FEEL the same anymore". The thing is, we will NEVER feel the butterfly feelings all of the time (like at the beginning of a relationship) when we're with a person, living with that person, months and years and decades. Love is not just a feeling, is a commitment to love the person "for richer or poorer" in "sickness and health"... and you know how the rest goes.
Jesus, God loved (and loves) us in such a way that we spat in His face, both figuratively and literally, we forgot and ignored His laws, we have forgotten Him... and He still comes into the picture and says:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
...and while Jesus was being mocked, tortured and crucified we find Him saying:
"Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.' And they divided His garments and cast lots." - Luke 23:34
UUfffff... speechless. What a wondrous, undeserved love is this? Well, the one He gives us and the one He expect us to go after and demonstrate in our lives, relationships and to our husbands and wives. My awesome friend on the other side of the screen (you), yes you, love your spouse and commit to that person. If you're not married yet, then commit when it happens and, in the meantime, spread a love like the which Only through Jesus we can achieve. Feelings will come and go, at times you will get mad at your spouse, at times you will feel sad, after all we all are different people raised in different homes, still, at the end of the day, choose to be with that person, to love him/her, to commit and to beat the odds. Divorce is never the easy way out nor should ever be a thing.
But... how do I protect myself?
As a kid I witnessed a broken marriage. I witnessed my beautiful mother give it all for a man who hit her, cheated on her, and eventually abandoned us all, a man who I once used to call "my daddy". I am sure that just like my mom, many out there have experienced similar situations where they give it all but their partners don't and eventually they get heartbroken. Needless to say, the immediate thought that comes to mind is one of self-preservation: "never put all of your eggs in one basket". Right? Why love in such a way and give it all to one person if we're putting ourselves in vulnerable positions and at risk of getting hurt? Well... when you think like this, also think this:
"He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name..." - John 1:11-12
He also gave it all without a guarantee of receiving nothing in return. I am not saying you should give yourself away to whoever prince or princess charming comes through the door. But I am saying, put your relationship in God's hands, if you're not in one yet, ask for God's guidance, honor Him and yes, once you're in that relationship with God's backing... give it all. Love and commit just and He loved and commit; your life and relationships with both God and people will never be the same.
Until next one!
Opmerkingen