As I prepare for “A Day Away Marriage Retreat” this weekend, I find myself reading various books and articles on marriage. Below is not an attempt to write out a fully orbed blog post. Rather, here are some quick thoughts and bullet points to get us thinking a little about our marriages.
- If you want to have a healthy church, then we need to be about the business of building healthy marriages. Strong marriages make for strong churches. What will you do in 2018 to build a strong marriage? Maybe you could read a marriage book together, plan out some date nights, or go on a retreat that will encourage growth in your marriage.
- If point #1 is true, we would all do well to pray for marriages in our churches.
- If you are single and desire to one day be married, then you too ought to pray for those who are married in your church, because they are examples to you and your future marriage.
- Marriage was God’s idea, not man’s idea. (This, of course, has profound implications for how we view marriage in our current culture.)
- God is for marriage. Marriage was created by God (Genesis 1), Redeemed (Ephesians 5), Glorified (Revelation 19:6-9).
- Marriage (for Kim and I) has been both harder than we expected and better than we expected. I don’t like it when people say that, “marriage is soooo difficult.” Of course it is difficult, but it is also a joy and a blessing!
- Divorce is not an option and being perpetual roommates who do little more than endure each other is not God’s plan for our marriages. Sure, all marriages will struggle. To the glory of God, we have the opportunity to work through our struggles and pursue growth as a married couple.
- Marriage is war! It is not a war between a husband and wife. Stop fighting each other. Instead, fight for each other and for your marriage. Your spouse is not the enemy! You are together, you are one, fighting for the same things.
- Live soberly aware that we really do have an enemy who seeks to devour. (I Peter 5:8)
- Marriage is a living parable/picture of Christ’s love for His bride (the church). (Ephesians 5:25-33)
Take it beyond this quick post and do your marriage a favor by reading a great book on marriage. Here are three that I recommend.
![Happily Ever After: Finding Grace in the Messes of Marriage by [God, Desiring]](https://i2.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51a0HRfh5kL.jpg?resize=190%2C289&ssl=1)
Happily Ever After By John Piper
![The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by [Keller, Timothy, Keller, Kathy]](https://i2.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41YtOMELX6L.jpg?resize=190%2C302&ssl=1)
The Meaning Of Marriage by Tim Keller.
![What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage by [Tripp, Paul David]](https://i2.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51e7IeIHi1L._SY346_.jpg?resize=190%2C286&ssl=1)
What Did You Expect by Paul Tripp.
Love these thoughts and bullets on marriage. Having been married for 53 years has taught me a whole lot. Marriage at times is hard but the good and joy far out weighs the difficulties. Two imperfect people coming together in marriage need God’s help to make it beautiful. Marriage is God’s precious creation so we can be certain He wants to guide and sustain us through it. It is a joy to be covering this marriage conference with prayer and there after. Healthy marriages for our church family, yes a big deal!
I would say….always stand united even if your flesh wants to be divided. As a husband to a wife who loves the Lord, there is no greater example, joy and blessing than to stand united with my bride.