‘For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.’ Romans 11:36(NLT)
‘“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.’ Matthew 5:14-16(NLT)
‘“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”’ Revelation 4:11(NLT)
‘for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.’ Colossians 1:16(NLT)
‘So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. ‘ John 13:34(NLT)
‘This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. ‘ John 15:12(NLT)
‘As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. ‘ Ephesians 5:31-32(NLT)
‘Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.’ Revelation 19:7(NLT)
A Timeless Truth
The foundations for our marriage purpose must be established by God and for God (Romans 11:36).
Regardless of your specific marriage purpose, God intended for every marriage to make Him known (Matthew 5:14−16), bring Him pleasure (Revelation 4:11; Colossians 1:16), and demonstrate His unconditional love (John 13:34; 15:12).
Make God Known (Matthew 5:14−16)
In Matthew, Jesus provided an undeniable application for every marriage; our light should first provide light to our own household. Why? Because we reveal who we really are behind closed doors. How we respond, interact, and speak to our spouse and children offers the clearest indication of our heart’s condition. If we want to leave a lasting legacy and live a life of significance, we must live God’s purpose within the walls of our home. Your marriage purpose will always bring life to one another and to your family first.
We Were Created to Bring God Pleasure (Revelation 4:11; Colossians 1:16)
In The Practice of the Presence, Brother Lawrence writes, “Our sole occupation in life is to please God.” Can you imagine how different our world would be if our sole occupation and only ambition was to bring God delight? It brings God pleasure when we extend our gifts back to Him, for His service, and live according to the purpose He designed for our marriage.
Demonstrate His Unconditional Love (John 13:34; 15:12)
When we first married, unconditional love seemed impossible. We both reservedly offered our love with conditions. Julie struggled with insecurities, stemming from earlier childhood abuse. It took years to unravel unspoken vows of “I’ll never let another man hurt me.” Likewise, Greg conditioned his love with qualifiers of “I won’t be controlled by anyone.” As you might imagine, our individual mandates obstructed our ability to express love unconditionally. Yet one of God’s greatest invitations is to love as He loves us. All throughout Scripture, God illustrates His love for the church by comparing it with the love of a husband and wife (Ephesians 5:31−32; Revelation 19:7).
As you continue on your quest to seek and discover your specific marriage purpose, remember: Every marriage purpose will make God known, bring Him pleasure, and demonstrate His unconditional love.
from 2 Are Better Than 1: Uncover Your Marriage Purpose