Wedlock Or Dreadlock?

What a wonderful demonstration of commitment intertwined with love.

In the same way…

2. Jesus vows to stay with us (Ephesians 5:25).

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…

Husbands are called to be exclusive lovers.

We are called to be lovers that protect, provide, nourish and cherish.

We are called on to commit to our spouse just as Jesus has committed to us.

Jesus is committed to our well-being, so much so, He sacrificed Himself on our behalf.

He loves the church.

All those that have accepted responsibility for our sin and thus the need of a Lord and Savior, have become a member of that church.

So, just as we are to be committed to our spouses in marriage, it is this same kind of serious and radical promise that Jesus has made toward us.

He is for us and with us.

Nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35).

II. The second correlation that demonstrates how healthy marriages communicate the gospel is GRACE.

Have you ever noticed that opposites attract?

I know…some of you are saying…now you tell me.

But…

1. Issues of incompatibility hinder the marriage relationship.

Perhaps, a more accurate statement might be…issues of incompatibility can hinder the marriage relationship.

For Opposites do attract.

Extroverts marry introverts.

Messies marry cleaners.

Ones that like to go out marry ones that like to stay home.

Readers of books marry watchers of movies.

Indoor people marry outdoor people.

Morning people marry night people.

People who have no sense of direction marry people that do.

An idea person marries the person who has to do it.

We all have characteristics, quirks and personality traits that annoy each other.

But it is this oppositeness that gives our relationships richness.

You know, Dondra doesn’t always agree with me and I don’t always agree with her.

I believe that’s exactly what God wants for me.

Her opinions rubbing against mine causes both of us to reexamine our ideas.

And just once in a while, I am right, though it doesn’t happen very often.

Oh…maybe that’s not the way that was supposed to end.

Which just goes to show us that…

2. Areas of annoyance are opportunities to extend grace.

ILL Marriage (you can’t win them all)

George never could remember the wedding anniversary on March 7. One year, when he and his wife Margaret were enroute to Australia, at five minutes before midnight on March 6, George proudly looked at Margaret and said, "This year I remembered. Just five minutes."

At that moment the captain’s voice announced, "We have crossed the International Date Line. It’s now March 8."

Well, sometimes you can’t win.

But when the annoying things do come up in our marriages, they are the perfect opportunities to extend grace and forgiveness.

I really believe that incompatibility is a myth.

It is used as a rationale for doing what is wrong and being lazy in our relationships.

I like how William James out it:

“The essence of genius is to know what to overlook.”

We need to give the good gifts of grace and forgiveness in our relationships.