In an age of ever changing mores and methods, it is comforting to know that we Christians have an unchanging God (Malachi 3:6), Who has left us His unchanging word (Isaiah 40:8) as a guide for life (Psalm 119:105).
In light of the persistent wave of attacks on marriages and the conflicting views on how to “fix” what is broken, I have prayerfully decided to do a mini series on this important subject: “Marriage, The Master’s Plan”. Contrary to popular thought, God’s Word on the topic of marriage is not only for couples whose marriages are in crisis, but it is also God’s Word on how to make good marriages better. (Click here to access videos of this 6-part series.)
Marriage is a lifelong, 24 hour a day, 7 day a week commitment to God and one another for His glory. Here is a fact that all of us need to hide in our hearts and minds. Both God and the devil have a plan or agenda for our marriages. The devil wants to destroy your marriage, but he cannot do it without your help. On the other hand, God wants to bless your marriage, but He will not do it apart from your unconditional submission to His will and word.
Marriage is God’s plan for man (Genesis 2:21-25), and thus He is the only “expert” on the subject, for only He knows how a home is to be built (Psalm 127:1). Only our Creator can tell us the roles of the wife and husband that produce fruit and bring Him glory (Ephesians 5:22-29). Since marriage is a divine institution, the most important ingredient in a Christian marriage is our vertical submission to God first (Ephesians 5:21). Any teaching or counsel on marriage that begins with man ends up with problems, because man is incapable of knowing how to deal with the heart issues of marriage. Thus the place to begin is a total, unconditional surrender of self to God and His will (Romans 12:1,2). By allowing God to teach us what is the right way to act and think, we place the totality of “fixing” or improving our relationship into His sovereign hands.
The Master plan of marriage is a life-long covenant, not a contract. It is a commitment, not an experiment. By God’s grace, we will all (married and single alike) draw fresh insight into God’s structure for marriage and His unchanging pattern for the roles of husband and wife and family. The goal is that Christ would be magnified in our marriages and that our local congregation would be a place where God’s values on marriage and family and raising children are promoted and practiced.
