This month’s theme is “Pierce my heart for marriage” and our key scripture is Hebrews 13:4: “Marriage is to be held in honor among all…” The Bible is clear on what love is, and how we are to treat our spouses (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19). But, notice the first verse again. It does not say, “Marriage is to be held in honor among married people” or “Marriage is to be held in honor among those who think they want to get married someday,” but, instead, “Marriage is to be held in honor among all” (emphasis mine).
So, what does it mean to honor marriage? Dictionary.com defines honor as “high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank.” Do you have high respect for the married couples you know, and for your future marriage?
Honor married couples
It can be easy to forsake the command of honoring marriage without even realizing it. Married couples are to make their decisions together, jointly, and as a team. If one of our parents says no to something, and we go to the other parent to try to get what we want, we are asking them to become divided as a couple, and we are not honoring that marriage.
If we treat married couples with kindness and gentleness even when we don’t fully understand the decisions they make, then chances are we respect and honor them. If we gossip about them, are rude to one or both of the spouses, judge their decisions, secretly want the husband to notice us, or do anything else that is potentially harmful to their relationship, then we are not honoring their marriage, which is, in turn, sinning against God.
Honor your future marriage
We need to be careful to not only honor the marriages of those around us, but to also honor our future marriage by having godly relationships now, and by keeping ourselves pure for our future husbands (1 Corinthians 7:1-4), praying that they will also remain pure for us.
Apply it
This month, as we’re concentrating on having our hearts pierced for marriage, check the condition of your heart. Are you honoring the marriages of those around you? If not, pray for forgiveness, go to the couple you’ve been dishonoring to ask the forgiveness of both spouses, and strive to do better in the future. Marriage is a gift from God (Genesis 2:22-24), so make sure that you’re honoring all marriages – yours or not.
By Davonne Parks
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