Love Does Not Demand Its Own Way Series

Introduction:

Beloved, Senam and Esinam, at every Christian marriage celebration God reveals His nature and His plan for the family. Marriage follows a pattern that God Himself established at the beginning of human history. God’s plan is to create man in His image and likeness, with authority and dominion, to rule on earth as He did in heaven. He created Adam out of the dust of the earth and breathed His Spirit into him and then created Eve out of Adam. Eve was taken from the side of man, that she might be equal with him; from near his heart that she might be loved by him; and from under his arm that she might be protected by him. God then united them to become one in the first marriage ceremony in a world that was without sin. This union reflected the image of God, who is a triune Being, as marriage united the man and the woman with God in perfect love and intimacy.

Marriage is a covenant:

Beloved, Senam and Esinam, Marriage is a covenant between the husband, the wife and God. You have just made your vows to enter into this covenant and make God an integral part of every aspect of your marriage relationship. God will always remain faithful to this sacred covenant and your faithfulness will ensure the success, stability, sanctity and strength of your marriage. This may appear difficult in a sinful world but as believers you must always remember that you have been justified and made righteous and become partakers of God’s divine nature.

The obligations of marriage:

Beloved, Senam and Esinam, Christian marriage is a merger and not a partnership, a union and not a contract. In a contract the parties protect their rights and limit their responsibilities. In a marriage the parties give up their rights and take up their responsibilities. Your marriage should reflect the union between Christ and His bride, the Church, who like Eve, was taken from His side. This places an obligation on both the husband and the wife. The wife’s obligation is to submit to her husband as to the Lord, as the Church to Christ and the husband’s obligation is to love the wife as Christ loved His bride, the Church, and gave His life for her. The husband is to love, protect, respect, and be sensitive to the needs of his wife. The husband’s sacrificial love will always bring out the best in his wife. Your adherence to these truths will give you victory over sin in your marriage and keep the enemy at a distance. It will give you victory over anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness and enable you fulfil God’s divine purpose in your marriage.

Conclusion:

Senam and Esinam, your names not only sound similar but also have almost the same meaning and appear to come from the same root. God has united the two of you in marriage and the love you have for each other today needs to be nurtured to remain “very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude, and never demanding its own way”. You need to nurture this love by spending time with each other, growing together in your spiritual intimacy with God, constantly assuring each other of your commitment to the love that brought you together, and always being committed to the truth.

Personal Response:

Senam and Esinam, you will always need the Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to maintain your love, joy and intimacy in marriage. Without them you can miss out on God’s power to transform your hearts and lives and miss out on the incredible blessings and rewards that await you in marriage. Marriage is the best thing that can ever happen to the two of you. Take good care of each other, spend time together and enjoy your marriage the way God has designed it to be to the praise and glory of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!