Good day dear friends.
Yesterday we continued our "Growing Great Families" series and we explored the topic, "Enriching Your Marriage," based on the passage from Colossians 3:12-17 which reads, "Colossians 3:12-17 12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Our study guide for today is as follows:
Monday: Re-read the Genesis 2 story of God and His plan for humans. Why would the man be “alone.” Re-read carefully the story of God bringing to the man the many animals. Which of those would come close to being man’s companion? What do you think of man’s poetry when he says, “At last.......”?
God's design for humanity models His own of desiring companionship and the human is made in the same way. His declaration in verse 18 of Genesis 2 states that, "It is not good that man should be alone." Loneliness is that which plagues so many, even those in relationships. As a pastor I've heard one or the other of the couples whose marriages are in trouble say, "I feel so alone." Companionship, that of walking, talking and sharing should be central to the marriage. In the Genesis story God creates all the animals and brings them to the man to have him name them. It was an exercise in exploration, having the man see and examine the animals, he was not only naming the animals but also realizing that none of them would be a good companion. Which of the animals would you like to be your companion? Which could provide the type of companionship that most humans need? The Genesis writer has the man exclaiming his poetic declaration of love and acceptance, "This at last is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh!" What a poem!
What poem have your "written" lately in your relationship? Not necessarily on a paper but in your expressions of love and appreciation for your wife or husband?
PRAYER: Gracious God, we thank you for the unexplainable gift of love. We thank you for Jesus who showed us the example of a sacrificial love and we pray it would be the model for all our relationships, but especially in our marriages and families. We pray that we would be led by You to help us enrich our marriages in all things. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
