JUST MARRIED

“Just Married”

Monday, June 6th, 2022

SCRIPTURE:

Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. – Genesis 2:22-24

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love. – Proverbs 5:18-19

THOUGHTS TO PONDER:

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been preaching a sermon series on marriage. It’s been a blessing to read the stories of married couples in the bible and glean all I can so as to share with my congregations and to personally strengthen my own marriage.

Sunday morning, on the way to church, I noticed a car down the street that had the words “Just Married 6.5.22” written in shaving cream on the rear window.

That phrase on your OWN vehicle invites a celebratory act with family, friends, your spouse, and the Lord… However, to see that phrase on someone else’s car after you’ve been married for many years, I hope doesn’t translate that you and your spouse are simply “JUST” oh … well…. “married”… JUST living in a contractual relationship so-to-speak, nothing fancy, nothing to celebrate, JUST roommates, JUST sort of going through motions, the ho-hum, daily grind of it all…

I couldn’t help but to think of my own wedding day and how glorious it was and all the hopes and dreams we had together. We've been married for over 22 years now. Sure, some things are far better and some are not, but marriage is certainly not what I had expected. I never thought I’d be a pastor that’s for sure. And we never thought we’d move quite so much in pastoral ministry. Nonetheless, we wouldn’t trade it for anything. Marriage and life are rarely what we expect it to be. Full-time ministry as a pastor and a lifetime of marriage is quite the glorious adventure of striving to show Christ’s unconditional love to my wife every single day, day after day, week after week, year after year. Lord knows marriage isn’t easy, but with Christ at the center it makes it all worthwhile.

Seeing that car recently reminded me to be more intentional about celebrating the gift of marriage and embracing the presence of God within our marriage as though we were just married all over again, recapturing the excitement, the adventure and all the joys of the unknowns.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:

How about you? For those of you who are married, do you remember your big wedding day? What were your hopes and dreams with your future spouse? Is marriage anything like what you had expected? Are you JUST simply married, going through the motions? Or are you living as though you were just married, celebrating the love of God that has brought you two together then and who still holds you two together now? How are you putting Christ at the center of your marriage? And are you being intentional about growing in your relationship with Christ and with one another? What might need to change today so that years from now, your life is a reflection of the love of God?

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for not putting You first in every aspect of my life, most especially my marriage. Strengthen me with courage to be more open about my faith with my spouse. Grant us courage to pray together, to talk about what we learned in church and small group together, and to share confidently what You are teaching us O Lord. Strengthen our marriage. Be glorified in my personal life, my marriage and family, and in the ministries You have called me to. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. – Amen.

RESOURCE & APPLICATION:

Be intentional about praying with your spouse this week. If you’ve never prayed with your spouse or often find it too difficult to pray together, consider praying the Lord’s Prayer together or simply sitting on the couch together holding hands and having a silent prayer together.

Go out on a date with your spouse this week. Recall your wedding day, your honeymoon, your hopes and dreams, and be sure to have a prayer together. And discuss some applicable ways you two can make Christ the center of your marriage. Heck, maybe even consider writing on the back window of your car, "Just Married _____ Years Ago" ...