‘Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.’ Hebrews 10:24-25(NLT)
‘For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”’ Matthew 18:20(NLT)
‘Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. ‘ Colossians 3:16(NLT)
‘Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.’ Ephesians 4:11-13(NLT)
‘All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper ), and to prayer.’ Acts of the Apostles 2:42(NLT)
By now you should understand that it is not good to be alone. You should also know that you were created for relationship and to learn how to love. Yesterday, we learned that prayer and community are vital to a healthy and thriving marriage.
Today we will be discussing the third element of a healthy marriage:going to church together. If you have children, then attending church as a family is critical. Attending church as a family does several things for a marriage. First, it helps root out selfishness. I cannot tell you how many times I have wanted to hit SNOOZE and just sleep in. Or how many times I would rather try to justify it by saying “we are having a family day,” instead of doing what is right.
Second, by going to church together, we are part of a church family, where we develop deep friendships that are rooted in Christ. It also allows us to worship as a family and as a couple. Tithing also roots out selfishness. My wife and I often discuss the message, which brings our hearts closer to each other as we are simultaneously growing closer to God. There are are a myriad of reasons why attending church as a family or couple is beneficial.
If you don’t have a good church to call home, go find one. Even if you have to drive a little bit or get up a little earlier, it is worth the investment. Remember yesterday how we discussed the importance of community. Finding and building community with people you go to church with is, hands down, the easiest way to accomplish it.
Take a few moments and ask God: “Has church truly been a priority to me and my spouse/family?” If you’re not plugged into a local church, ask God for guidance in choosing one.
from True North: LIVE Free In Marriage