‘What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” ) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Romans 8:31-39(NLT)
‘Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.’ Psalms 73:23-26(NLT)
‘So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”’ Deuteronomy 31:6(NLT)
‘let no one split apart what God has joined together.”’ Mark 10:9(NLT)
‘Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Philippians 2:2-11(NLT)
Commitment seems to be going out of style today, especially when it comes to marriage.
Young adults are postponing marriage or avoiding it altogether. Divorce is as common as popcorn in a movie theater. In future years, 50th anniversary celebrations will become rare events.
While many couples find it difficult to maintain their commitment in marriage year after year, we can be thankful for God’s faithfulness to us as followers of Christ. God pledges to never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Psalm 73:26 declares, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
God will never leave us. And when you and your spouse keep your marriage covenant and remain committed to each other for a lifetime, you reflect His character. You give help and hope to a world that desperately wants to experience oneness in marriage. That’s one reason Christ declared, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Mark 10:9).
One way God showed His commitment to us was by setting aside His interests and living on earth as a man. As Philippians 2 tells us, “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (v. 8). This is the attitude each of us should have toward our spouse—considering their interests more important than our own. The same passage in Philippians instructs us to “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Considering your spouse more significant than yourself is one of the biggest challenges of marriage. But that type of commitment will make your marriage last for a lifetime.
Discuss:
Read Romans 8:31-39 together. List some ways that God has shown His love and commitment to you. How can you show these same qualities to each other?
from The Next Year Of Your Marriage