This past Sunday we took a break from our "40 Days in the Word" series and did a special Illustrated Message "Marriage Is It Worth It?" You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158
It was a great message and everything Pastor Jeremy but I am not married. Matter of fact I may not ever get married. If I do get married it may not be for a while. So how does this message apply to me? What can I do now in preparation for the future? I want to share two quick thoughts with you today...
#1-Work on becoming the person you would want to marry
We spent most of our time this past Sunday on Ephesians 5:21-23. If you think you are going to be getting married in the future then focus on the very things that you are looking for. If you are looking for someone who is completely in love with Jesus, then you become completely in love with Jesus. If you would want to marry someone who is thoughtful and kind then you work on becoming thoughtful and kind. If you would want to marry someone that is faithful to going to church, then work on being faithful on attending church. Work on becoming the person you want to marry.
So how do you do that? How can you work on becoming the person you would want to marry?
a) Write out a specific list of what matters to you. Maybe you write thoughts about
prayer, forgiveness, spending time together, encouragement etc.
b) Do a topic search and find as many Bibles verses that pertain to the list that
you wrote down. If you wanted someone who was going to love you the way God
defines love then do a search on love. Write out all of the verses you find.
c) Pray through and read all of the verses often. Allow the very things that you are
looking for to begin to renew your mind and shape your character. Allow that list to
become a reality in your own life.
The harsh reality is that we often attract the things we are focusing on. If you focus on the list, focus on God's Word and are praying you will not be swept away only by someone's looks or fleeting charm or infatuation. This way you are preparing and planning for a healthy, godly and growing marriage.
#2-If you don't ever plan on becoming married then be an advocate for healthy, godly and growing marriages.
How can you be an advocate??
a) Be cognitive of other peoples marriages and be careful to be the cause of
temptation to others. Don't put yourself in situations with others who are married that
you wouldn't want your spouse to be in if you were married.
b) Pray for the friends and family in your life who are married. Every marriage is
walking through the refining fire like we talked about on Sunday. They need your prayer
support. By praying you are helping them fight the real battle, their spiritual enemy.
c) Use the extra time you have to invest in eternal things. I always laugh when I hear
single people say they are busy. I get it. I really do. I thought I was busy as a high school
senior. I thought I was busy as a college student. I thought I was busy as a newly married
in my first year of full time ministry. I think I'm busy now 13 1/2 years later working on a
healthy marriage, enjoying and pouring into 3 kids, loving & being involved in a community
and pastoring a church.
God gives us the grace for every stage we are in. All I am saying is if you are not married
and aren't focusing on a spouse and children then do not allow "business" to rob you of
investing your life in what matters. Take an honest inventory of your time and see how
many things are "time robbers" in your life. Take some time to pray and ask God to use
you like never before in serving and loving others .
PS. Don't forget our first 3rd Friday of the season is this Friday!!! We will be by the clock tower 5-8pm with a "mindcraft" ice sculpture. You can volunteer for helping the city set up or helping at our booth by emailing Timeia at timeialee@yahoo.com
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