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,
What is your definition of marital success? You will agree with me that success, itself, is relative. How much more in the case of marriage? If you are a child of God and you have chosen to have a Godly marriage, then your standard of marriage must be the one God gives us in His word: one man and one woman becoming one flesh united in Him. Let’s look at some scripture:
Ephesians 5:24-28 NLT
[24] As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. [25] For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her [26] to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. [27] He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. [28] In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.
Marriage is designed by God for a kingdom-specific purpose. For this reason, it is critical that we do not deviate from the Biblical standard for marriage or reduce marriage to worldly standards lest we find ourselves outside of His will and unable to fulfill our purpose and destiny on earth. You will know you are successful in the place of marriage when your marriage is structured with love and submission in accordance with God’s word. You’ll know your marriage is successful when both spouses willingly become one flesh, preferring one another, and operating as one union established in Christ. (Mark 10:7-9).
Don’t live a reduced life by settling for anything less than the Biblical standard of marriage. For those yet to marry, please begin to prepare your mind and heart in the direction of God’s will and purpose for your life. If you are married, no matter how many years, it’s not too late to begin the work of aligning yourselves with marriage God’s way. Even if your spouse is not yet on board, begin praying and modeling and adhering to the biblical definition of marriage. It’s the only way to have a truly successful marriage that reflects Gods love for us to the world.
I commend you to God and to the word of His grace.
I call you blessed. I call you NATIONS.
