Why our marriages matter

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32
Luke 8:22-39
Psalm 70:1-5
Proverbs 12:4

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Proverbs 12:4 (CSB) "A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a wife who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The verse for today is from a guy's perspective. If Proverbs had been written by a woman, it would have said, "A husband of noble character is his wife's crown, but a husband who causes shame is like rottenness in her bones."

I suspect that you realize that many marriages end in divorce and many that remain intact feel like their spouses are "rottenness to (their) bones."

That is so sad especially in light of the fact that Ephesians 5:22-33 tells us that our marriages illustrate the Gospel to a lost world. Our marriages should reveal how Jesus sacrificially loves us and we trust and respect Him so much that we gladly follow his leadership.

A marriage that has any "rottenness" in it is doing harm to the Gospel!

As a follower of Jesus, we don't have the luxury of coasting in our marriage. It takes work. It takes sacrifice. It takes humility. It takes communication (talking AND listening). It takes God's Word. It takes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 

All of this and more is required to have the kind of marriage that shows a lost world the Gospel. But, if we do the work as God blesses, we will come to realize that we benefit. We will come to see that our spouse will be "(our) crown." That means that it is a very powerful force within our lives to give us value and joy.

So, NEVER, EVER use the "D" word in your marriage. Divorce is simply not an option for Kim and me. I've told her that if she ever leaves me, I'm going with her.

Instead, do the hard work of marriage building. God will be glorified, the Gospel will be illustrated, and you will get the joy.