- Marriage is for Life –

[Shadrach]

Matthew 19:6, “They are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate”
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Marriage can be one of the most blessed or most miserable relationships. If you have been married for any length of time, you know that despite what you have heard in countless fairy tales, there is no guarantee that people who get married will live happily ever after or even stay married. Things go wrong, even with the best intentions, and we may find ourselves in a house full of resentment, hostility, unrest, and misery. Different backgrounds, contrasting personalities, varying likes and dislikes, and irritating habits can quickly transform the fondest dreams into the wildest nightmares. Differences that are tolerable and even amusing in casual relationships can become seemingly impossible irritants in marriage, and disagreements in spiritual matters can be the most difficult of all. However, we must recognize that God is not only the architect of marriage but also the One who holds it together. A marriage should be made up of three people: a wife, a husband, and Jesus Christ. The foundation of a Christian marriage needs to be a commitment to love and honor each other and the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one that brings lasting stability to a new relationship, and He is the one who can revive the love in a faltering one. By way of illustration … On the day after their wedding; the honeymooners were visiting Niagara Falls, New York. In the evening, they watched the thundering cascades of water plunge over the rocky cliffs, and they walked hand in hand in the romantic glow of a full moon. The starry-eyed bride stopped, looked lovingly into her husband’s eyes, and exclaimed, “Just think 50 years from yesterday; we’ll be celebrating our Golden Anniversary!” Her comment may bring a smile to our faces, but that bride had the right idea. To her, marriage was a permanent relationship. It wasn’t some trial arrangement, and its continuing existence was not conditioned on the whims of the partners involved. No, she had entered into a lifelong contract. Marriage is the most blessed of all human relationships. The union of a husband and wife is unique. Jesus declared, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one” (Mark 10:7). Moreover, because of this, our Lord concluded, “Therefore what God has joined together let no man separate.
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Further thoughts:

Most of us would prefer a successful and fulfilling marriage that just happens by itself; however, a growing marriage requires effort, patience, prayer and the presence of Jesus Christ. The divine commands for husbands and wives in Ephesians 5:22-23 are the framework for success in marriage, and when the apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesians, he asked husbands and wives to turn their thoughts to their relationship with the Son of God, because in Him we find undying love and forgiveness for our failures. In Him we find Someone who loves to forget the worst and bring out the best. He reminds us not of what we've lost but of what we have yet to find. While our society encourages divorce on the grounds of incompatibility and unhappiness, you will find in the book of Malachi, "The LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce." God calls us and wants us to work at our relationship with Him, and with the person we promised to love and cherish until death do us part, thus marriage is for life!

For better or for worse, we pledge,
Through sickness and through strife;
And by the help and grace of God
We'll keep these vows for life.
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(1) Maybe you’re contemplating marriage? If so, as you make your plans, do so thoughtfully and prayerfully, and before you tie the knot, make sure you are one in the Lord Jesus Christ.

(2) Or maybe you have been married for many years, if so, remember that God expects you to honor your wedding vows.
(3) Jesus Christ is the only third party in a marriage who can make it work.
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An anonymous person once said,"God took woman from man's side for a purpose. Not from his head, so she might lord over him or from his feet so she could trample on him, but rather from his side, from underneath the protective position of his arm, so they could walk side by side down the highways and by-ways of life, experiencing the joys and sorrows of life, together as husband and wife."

[ivorylamp]

I agree with the Word on the pure love He brought into our hearts in the bond of marriage. In fact marriage is a great treasure if its blessed and we seek the Lord's counsel in guiding our path.

Today's marriages are much more challenging as the world takes a turn towards a modern era of communication where we meet all sorts of men and women in our paths in life. Often, temptations are just around us and without the Lord's guidance and our prayers to seek His help in helping us overcome temptation, we cannot win the force of the evil powers.

We depend fully on Him, even in single life, and thus marriage requires even more dedication towards the Lord, that He becomes the HEAD of the family to bring its blissful marriage blessings.

[JohnH]

Matthew 19:6, “They are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate”
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Marriage can be one of the most blessed or most miserable relationships.

I am a guitarist and wrote a song called "Where none gets in"

She'll (He'll) drive ya crazy
Like no one can

She'll (He'll) drive ya crazy
Like no one can


That's cuz she's (he's) been
Where none gets in
Where none gets in

She'll (He'll) drive ya happy
Like no one can

She'll (He'll) drive ya happy
Like no one can (so glad you're a man in the "she" verse)


That's cuz she's (he's) been
Where none gets in
Where none gets in

G / C9 / G / C7 frets 5,4,3 / G