Ephesians 5:32-33 KJV
[32] This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. [33] Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Beloved,
One of the major problems of the average believer is the developed habit of separating their spiritual life from every other area of life. This is an error. If you have given your life to Christ, let it be your entire life, not just a portion. Jesus did not only redeem a portion of your life. It won’t work if only a portion of your life and time is surrendered to the Holy Ghost.
As we discuss marriage standards, understand that marriage is God’s design and it is ordained for a purpose. We established the last time that the wife is to be surrendered to her God-ordained spouse as the church is she who is surrendered to Christ. Husbands are to love their God-ordained wife as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:24-28).
Dear singles, do not wait until marriage before you begin to take this scripture seriously. Immediately you have given your (entire) life to Christ, you become His bride. Govern your life, time, priorities and emotions accordingly. I love the way Paul the Apostle puts it:
I Corinthians 7:7-8 NKJV
[7] For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. [8] But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am;
No matter the state you are in, if you are a believer, you are Christ’s bride. Let every area of your life, including your relationship status give glory to God. It hurts me when we, the bride of Christ, choose to exalt our relationship with man over our relationship with Him. Enjoy God and serve Him, no matter your state. In the pursuit of marriage, make sure that you are not failing in your place of assignment. Let God’s standard of love be your standard of life. We will talk more on this next time.
I commend you to God and to the word of His grace.
I call you blessed. I call you NATIONS.
