After reading what the Bible has to say about marriage, reading many books on marriage, watching DVDs filmed with the intent of teaching us what a Christian marriage should look like, we’ve come to this conclusion:
Becoming Christ-like is the key to a good marriage!!
So, whether you have what you characterize as a great relationship or you are struggling with something, there is always the hope of growth, if you are growing in Christ-likeness.
Everyone wants a quick fix. It’s a normal human desire to want to get through to the other side of something unpleasant as quickly as possible. Even in a strong marriage, continued growth is needed and certainly continued devotion to Christ guarantees that we will have the tools we need to have this growth. With this in mind, perhaps it is time to reevaluate your own personal devotion to Christ and make sure that you are keeping that relationship alive and well. How’s your prayer life? How is your Bible study coming along? Evaluate how much time you personally spend exploring the depths of the Word and how much time you spend listening to God speak to you through the letter He wrote to you.
What do you choose to do when you have free time? How connected do you feel you are to Him? What are your priorities in life? Are you in pursuit of a “good marriage” but not truly in pursuit of a rock solid relationship with Jesus? These questions need to be asked over and over throughout the course of our lives because it is so very easy to be distracted from what is really the most important relationship we could ever have! Our horizontal relationships will always reflect what is going on in our vertical one with our heavenly Father.
“Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may excel still more.” 1 Thessalonians 4:1
Does this mean we should stop reading books on marriage or stop viewing a good DVD series? Absolutely not! We want to take time to do all that we can to build our library of resources to call upon when needed and we want to spend time together pursuing lasting growth and change in our marriage relationship. But all of this can never replace a healthy connection to God, because He is the One who will help us pursue what is the one thing that is so necessary: Christ-likeness.
We must excel still more!
