‘And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ‘ Romans 12:1(NLT)
‘Commit everything you do to the Lord . Trust him, and he will help you.’ Psalms 37:5(NLT)
‘If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.’ 1 Corinthians 13:1-13(NLT)
Devotional Content:
Far too many couples place the bar precariously low when choosing their standard for what they expect in marriage. This sets them up for failure. Popular acceptance of divorce as an “easy out,” prenuptial agreements, lack of preparation before marriage, fear of commitment, and disregard for God’s plan for marriage are all among the many things that help to lower the standard for marriage and fill this world with more and more divorces. When couples arbitrarily choose how far they will carry their marriage commitments, they lower the standard for their marriage.
Marriage is such a serious, binding relationship between a man and a woman, and every married couple who desires a lasting commitment must set a high standard for their marriage that is in line with God’s design for marriage. God intended marriage to be a gift to us and something that we should cherish. But this gift is not to be taken lightly. Marriage begins with a commitment to God and another person. It is not a commitment for an hour, a day, a month, or a few years. It is a commitment for life. Raising the standard for marriage is agreeing to give 100 percent to your marriage. It is saying that you will go through all that life brings your way—together. It is saying that the three of you are committed—you, your spouse, and God. It is having a no-quit attitude. It is being willing to fight for your marriage. If you can raise the bar and aim high for God’s plan for your marriage, the chances of your having a successful marriage are great.
Today’s Challenge:
The highest standard for your marriage has already been set by God; reaffirm your commitment to that as your standard today!
Going deeper:
1. Which of these do you think lower the standard of commitment to marriage? (circle your choices):
2. How would you define “setting a high standard” for marriage?
3. Name three things you can do to show a 100% commitment to your marriage.
4. How can you bring God and His plan for marriage into your life together?
5. What is the difference in “fighting in your marriage” and “fighting for your marriage.”
from The Foundation