Open Heavens 28 January 2016: Thursday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye - Making your marriage work II

Topic: Making your marriage work II [Thursday 28 January, 2016]

Memorise: And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? – Matthew 19:5

Read: Ephesians 5:21-25 (KJV)

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Bible in One Year: Matthew 9:27-12:8; Job 12:1-12

MESSAGE:

A marriage that has God in it is the best thing that can happen to any child of God. The Bible says:

“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord” - Proverbs 18:22

This Scripture unequivocally dismisses the wrong notion of marriage being a burden. For your marriage to work, our memory verse for today reveals the first obligation on the part of the man (the husband) towards his wife: you must strictly adhere to this twin-command – leaving your parents and cleaving to your wife. Some men never leave their parents, particularly their mother. They are “mummy’s boys” and after marriage they still ‘eat from their mother’s pot’ on regular basis. This habit destroys a marriage relationship fast.

Unconditional love is another obligation a husband must perform towards his wife. This kind of love will make the man give his entire being to his wife without expecting anything in return. The Bible says:

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” - Ephesians 5:25

Some men, unfortunately, do not know what it means to be married. Marriage could be regarded as giving of one’s self to one’s spouse. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, gave the real picture of marital obligation when he wrote:

“32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.” - 1 Corinthians 7:32-33

The truth in the above passage is that a man is under obligation to cater for his wife and to have an unreserved commitment to the joy and well-being of his wife. Some so-called Christians are so careless about their marriage that they neglect the divine mandates of caring for the family. As a result, the wife becomes disillusioned about the faith and the children vow never to follow their father to worship God. At the end of the day, the failure of the family eventually affects their Christian walk and ministry. Love must be experiential and substantial, men must show their love practically, and their spouses will not be in doubt as to whether or not they are loved.

Prayer Point: Father, please give me the ability to love my spouse unconditionally.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

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