Marriage

     During my devotion time this morning in 1 Corinthians 7 God showed me something about my marriage. In this chapter, Paul writes to believers about the responsibility each spouse has in the marriage, as designed by God. But what struck me this morning was what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9. Paul says, “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (NIV).

     I have read 1 Corinthians several times and these two verses have never caught my attention quite the way they did today. It is a good reminder to me that the Word of God always speaks even when we have read it again and again. While reading these two verses my mind immediately thought about my wife, Amey. In particular 1 Corinthians 7:9 reminded me that Amey is a gift that God has placed in my life in order that I would not sin against him by burning with unholy passion and being tempted by sexual immorality. My marriage is an incredible picture of God’s protection over me if I am willing to honor him. My marriage to Amey is designed to keep me from sin! I am passionate for my bride.

     This does not mean that marriage is always easy. Marriage takes work. Gary Thomas, in his book Sacred Marriage, asks the question, “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?” This morning, I am grateful to God that He designed marriage, and more specifically that he designed Amey to make me holy. What about you? For those who are married, are you grateful to God for the gift of marriage today?

Stay faithful

Greg Edens