If Jesus Christ could be considered the greatest failure of all time from a worldly viewpoint, he had many examples in the Old Testament that also looked as if they had failed. When faced with doubt and confusion about his own success, Jesus Christ had an immense wealth of scriptures to keep his heart at ease with God’s true perspective.
When we were dating, and long before we were engaged, Sherry and I talked about having children. It was something we both wanted. We even picked out names for our future kids (I still remember a little list we made). Once we were married for a couple of years, we began to practically anticipate parenthood. But nothing happened. And yes, we knew how to make babies.
Previously we saw that although Adam and Eve were tricked by Satan, they forgave one another, continued together, and believed to have a son named Seth. From Seth came children who carried on the lineage leading to Jesus Christ.
Now we will see the faithful obedience of Noah to carry out all that God commanded so that he could save life upon the earth. Along with his wife, he was able to keep his three sons and their wives alive when all other people died. From Noah’s son, Shem, descended Jesus Christ.
Examples We Will Study in This Series
The Book of Genesis sets a foundation to life, including love and marriage. As the Author of His Word, God gives us great examples of men and women who were married. The Bible clearly shows that marriage is for one man and one woman who both love God first. These couples made lots of mistakes, just like we do in our marriages. But they trusted God and He was able to help them overcome the evil and negatives facing them.
This series will show some of the positive benefits to marriage. It will also show how married couples believed to carry out God’s will in their lives, and how that has blessed mankind for centuries.
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When I Wake Up in the Morning
When I wake up in the morning
I see the beauty of your face,
When I wake up in the morning
I hear the kindness of your voice,
When I wake up in the morning
I feel the warmth of your soft touch.
And I’m thankful each new morning
For the goodness of His grace,
And I’m thankful each new morning
That in His Word I can rejoice,
And I’m thankful each new morning
That both God and you love me so much.
Have you ever tried to use a camera on a single pole? Oops! Most pictures you take will either be of the ground or the sky. How about using a two-legged stand? Not much better is it? There is a reason we use a tripod! It takes three to form a solid, complete base for anything.
Three is definitely the way to go in marriage. With God at the center, a man and woman can have all they need to live a full and enriching life together as husband and wife. These three—God, the husband, and the wife—form a complete arrangement for spiritual wholeness and loving support.
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Love and Marriage: Ephesians 5
Have you read any books or manuals on marriage? Talked to a marriage counselor or family therapist? Watched TV shows like Divorce Court or Wife Swap? Asked family or friends for marriage advice? I have done all the above and more. And yes, I learned plenty. But most of it was fluffy self-improvement kind of stuff, sort of like trying to live on a diet of cake and ice cream with some chopped liver thrown in for nourishment. At one point, I decided to get serious and focus on God’s view of the subject in His Word and start eating right.
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A Wedding Poem
Here is a poem for all those wonderful couples who are getting married–and for all those faithful couples who live their marriage with God’s mercy and grace each day!
To better understand about marriage and how a man and woman can meld their lives together, let’s look at some of the basics from God’s Word. Understanding what our heavenly Father says about our body and soul is vital to appreciating how awesomely and wonderfully He has designed our lives.
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Love and Marriage: God’s Design
I came of marriageable age in the 1970s when “free love” and “women’s lib” were redefining society’s view of marriage. At the same time, a revival of interest in God, Jesus, and the Bible promoted conflicting viewpoints on the same subject.
In the middle of this tumultuous era, I got married. And only by God’s grace, mercy, and love, we are still married today—36 years later. Having traversed the rocky terrain of popular opinion and made our way across flooding rivers of human passion and emotion, we now have a life together built firmly in sweet fellowship with our heavenly Father that we will cherish the rest of our days.