Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
by Lysa TerKeurst
Ephesians 5:32, "This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the
church." (NIV)
A newspaper on the West Coast ran this ad: "Wedding Rings for Annual Lease." I
guess this company decided to capitalize on the growing market of those who enter
into marriage with an escape clause.
Many Christians enter marriage without fully understanding God's design for the
heavenly purpose behind the union. Perhaps this is why so many couples in the
church today, also wind up in divorce. Wrapped up in this connection between our
earthly bridegroom and our heavenly Bridegroom rest three components that can
help a marriage last. Take a look at them below:
2. Pursuing an intimate relationship with your spouse. Are you one who
approaches your prayer time with a list of things you want God to do for you,
instead of asking God what you can do to better serve Him? If you are, you aren't
alone. However, whether we realize it or not, many of us are living out our
marriages in the same self-centered mode. Instead of demanding your own way,
ask your husband what he would like to see happen in your relationship. Spend time
talking about ways to get to know one another more intimately and be willing to
serve him as you would Christ.
As you begin to understand God's perfect and unfailing love, you will begin to
delight in His ability to be all that you need. When you approach the throne of God
with a heart that desires to serve, He makes you ready to not only be the cherished
bride of your husband, but the bride of an eternal union (Rev 21:2) When you see
your sinful self cleansed and purified by the covering of Jesus' sacrificial blood, you
will begin to see your imperfect significant other with the same love and grace Jesus
had for you.
My Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, give me a right view of what biblical
marriage is all about. Help me to see the spiritual truths in the union that I am a
part of so that my marriage may be full and happy. Help me to cling to You first and
foremost so that my fullness in You may pour over into my marriage.
Application Steps:
Here are some ways you can apply the three components of comparing our earthly
bridegroom to our heavenly Bridegroom.
1. If you are deeply wounded because your spouse hasn't met a spiritual or
emotional need that you so desperately want met, take it to Jesus. Ask Him alone to
fill that void and declare Him to be your perfect Husband.
2. To open the lines of communication between you and your spouse, start by
asking a few of the following questions about what he wants from your marriage:
3. Start loving yourself by recognizing that you have stolen God's heart with "one
glance of your eyes" (Song of Solomon 4:9). Also, your body is the temple of the
Holy Spirit. How would you revere the house of God? Remember that you, too, are
that house.
Reflection Points:
2. In what way can you humble yourself before your husband to serve him?
3. What changes in your mentality need to be made in order for you to see yourself
as a beloved child of God?
Power Verses:
•Genesis 2:25, "The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame."
(NIV)
•Jeremiah 2:2, "I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved
me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown." (NIV)
•Ephesians 5:28-31, "[She] who loves [her husband] loves [herself]. After all, no
one ever hated [her] own body, but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does
the church - for we are members of his body." (NIV)
•Revelation 22:17, "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears
say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him
take the free gift of the water of life." (NIV)
•Malachi 2:16, "'I hate divorce,' says the Lord God of Israel, 'and I hate a man's
covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,' says the Lord
Almighty." (NIV)
Additional Resources: