Marriage devotional week two

Week two marriage devotional; Ephesians 5:28-31 (NKJV) 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes it, just as the lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 " For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh".

Two become one. What a complex mystery this is. What a beautiful gift it is at the same time. You leave your family and start one of your own and become one with your wife. This becoming one is not just in flesh either in the figurative sense, you literally become of the same mind. You grow in common goals and love of one another. Together you build a household. Together you build a family. You do all things together. You share in trials and triumphs. This great bond is unbreakable when founded on Jesus, this bond is unbreakable when you also stand together as one.

Trials come and threaten to cause division in the household. These trials can be worldly things like money, goods, or pursuit there of and leaving your family behind. Trials also come in the form of blatant sin like adultery. Trials even come as love loss in the relationship. All of these things can rip a relationship to shreds. This is where endurance comes in. Wives have to be strong for the husband when the husband is weak, husbands have to be strong for their wives and kids when their wives can't be. You both have to depend on each other and be there for each other. You can't have division as this hurts the idea of being one flesh and one mind. Jesus said " How can a kingdom divided against itself stand?" it can't! that is why relationships fail.

Paul gave a good image in 1 Cor. 3:13 (NkJV) each ones work will become clear ; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire ; and the fire will test each ones work, of what sort it is. In verse 14 Paul talks about if your work stands the fire you'll receive a reward. In verse 15 Paul talks about your not with standing the fire yet you still being saved through the fire. This applies to marriages and households too. The fires Paul speaks of are trials. Failed marriages and homes get devoured by the trials and this causes splits and divorces, hatred for one another, etc. Some of these relationships get burnt up because they couldn't withstand the trial and so the two people once in love split sometimes mutually sometimes bitterly, either way I would argue it leaves emotional scars. We as Christians understand these trials come and we fight our hardest to not let them engulf our relationships. We have to find ways to endure these fiery trials with out our love for each other growing cold or being quenched. The only thing worse than a lost relationship, is when one goes cold and that passion you once had in your eyes for each other becomes an icy glazed over stare of resentment.

This is apart of being one flesh as well; enduring trials together. Standing by each other no matter what the world tosses your way. I pray for all of you that are married, raising families, and in relationships , that by God's strength you will remain faithful to each other and serve one another. Love each other everyday , life is here today and gone tomorrow, take any second you can,even if it is just a second to let your better half know how much you care, let your families know you love them.

Philippians 2:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Marriage devotional week one

Week one marriage devotional : "Cleaning House"
1 Cor. 5:6-8 nkjv. Your glorifying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven , that you may be a new lump , since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast , not with old leaven, nor  with the leaven of malice and wickedness , but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.  
This verse was written to the church in Corinth in regards to them rejoicing over immorality in the church. Yet this verse applies to our households as well. How often do we let things in to our homes and relationships that do nothing but damage them? How often do we  let temptation take us away from God, our families, and those in need around us? How often do we let our hearts harden in malice when things don't go our way? these are all good questions to spiritually reflect on this week. We also need to think about what areas are we weak in that we need God's strength to cover.
Sin pleases ourselves ( the flesh) but it is a selfish choice that doesn't bring good to ourselves, our families, and it also dishonors God. It is written we are meant to glorify God and not for sin ( 1 Cor. 6:20).  Sin also damages marriages (especially immorality).  Take the time to go the extra mile for your spouse and family this week. Marriages have high divorce rates in this country because of a loss in value in marriage and marriages that are rushed into and not thought about in prayer. Guard your marriage vows. Marriage is the oldest covenant with God and his people.
Also this verse is good for families in the sense it teaches we can't go on living like we were. If you have a family and marriage you can't take the selfish approach and live like you are single. If you take this route your marriage will indeed fail as marriage is bout giving to one another. Also this verse is about getting rid of things that might damage your spiritual life or the church. Yet you could apply to a house or marriage as well. Are you listening to gossip you shouldn't be about your spouse? Are you taking a ton of advice   from people that are not furthering your relationship with your family or God? Are you having the same dusty arguments in your house hold about money, who does more, politics, etc. and all these arguments do is divide your family and do nothing for your  marriage? not all things are profitable! ( 1 Cor. 10:23). 
We need a Godly revival in the house hold. Stand tall brethren in prayer in Christ for families and marriages that are struggling. If sins and sinful things are piling up in your home repent and turn away from what is causing you to sin and move on.