Devotionals

A Personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Marriage

Behold I lay in zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him shall not be Dissappointed. 1 Peter 2:6

Marriage involves a blending of lives, not merely a "joining". Many Marriages flunder because the individuals in them keep looking back over their shoulders at freedoms and relationships they had in the past. When a couple invites Jesus Christ to be the cornerstone of their marriage as the true point of strength on which they build their relationship -- they are inviting Him to "walk out front" before them. Then He is free to lead them forward into the unique purpose He has for them as a married couple.

We are unique as individuals. But each marriage is also unique. It is a "individual" and one-of-a-kind as the two people involved. Just as God created us as completely original individuals, so we need to invite Him to create our marriages as completely original relationships. This can only happen when each person in the realtionship yields his or her individuality to God's Higher purpose.

As C.S. Lewis said, "Self exists to be abdicated. In self giving we touch a rhythm, not only of all creation, but of all being, for the Eternal Word also gives Himself in sacrifice".

The Family Begins in a Commitment of Love

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. Ephesians 5:31 AMP

If you were to hold a lump of dark green clay in one hand, and a lump of light green clay in the other, you could clearly identify the two shades of color. However if you were to mold the two lumps together, kneading them thoroughly until they were truly blended, you would see just one lump green clay... at least at first glance. Upon closer inspection, you could see the distinct and separate lines of dark and light green clay, yet it would be virtually impossible to separate the clay intow two pure colors again.

That is an image of what it means for a husband and wife to become "one flesh" -- love binds the couple together, especially as they knead out some of their differences and develop a life of mutual goals, activities, and relationship.

A grandma once told her young granddaughter that Jim and June were coming for a visit. With eager anticipation, they baked a special treats and cleaned the house thoroughly in expectation of their overnight stay. With wide-eyed wonder the little girl exclaimed upon their arrival, "Nanna, there are two people. Someone came with Jim-and-June!" When the name of one is so readily associated with the other... the clay truly has been blended.