Marriage

Matthew 19:3-6   Some Pharisees came to [Jesus] to test him.  They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”  “Haven’t your read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?  So they are no longer two, but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (NIV).

   Marriage was God’s plan in the beginning.  In this passage in Matthew, Jesus quotes Genesis!  Marriage has been carried out in most cultures throughout history.  Marriage was God’s intention from the start.
   But marriage has been frequently degraded at various times throughout history, and is being rapidly degraded in my country, the United States, now.  Just in my lifetime, marriage is less common and more frequently degraded.  Also the divorce rate is high.  Even in some Christian communities in my country, ministers are teaching it is fine to engage in sex outside of marriage, which is tragic.
   In my opinion, the disagreement within the Christian community and in society regarding the sanctity of marriage, tied in with the disagreement over same gender marriages, has been the most divisive dispute since the Civil War.
   Yet marriage between a man and a woman is good!  Now marriage is not a requirement.  Singleness being chaste is an option.  Personally I have accomplished much ministry work which probably would not have been possible or best had I been married.  Yet I still have the dream of being married.  And marriage is an opportunity for many.  Yet for continued happiness, a marriage needs both partners to live by the love of Jesus.  Why?  Because Jesus’ true love is needed by everyone, single or married.  His true love was manifested in that Jesus died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for the consequence of sins, which is spiritual death.  If you believe in Jesus, you will have eternal life with Him.  And you will be changed throughout your life to be more and more loving.  Enabled by Jesus, you can even be more and more loving to a spouse, if you gain one.
Hunter

Love

   Sometimes I struggle.  Recently I celebrated my birthday.  Every year in the past I have cherished birthdays.  Even as I get older, I continue with thanksgiving for how God has blessed me during another year.  But this past year, I have been so unsuccessful in gaining employment there have been rare feelings of diminished hope.  Also marriage has been a dream ever since my youth, but it has not happened after a half century.
   Working to stay encouraged by God, invitations were sent to a few friends for a birthday event.  The people who came: my dear friend who is like my sister and her children, of whom I am like an uncle.  Had they not been available, I would have been lonely on my birthday.  With such pathetic circumstances recently, I would have been crushed.  Instead, because of their expression of love, I had one of the best birthday parties I have ever had!
   Over the past 27 years of following Jesus there have been some occasions when I needed, truly needed, an expression of His love in some personal way.  This past birthday is an example where God gave me needed hope through the love of my three genuine friends.  Jesus Christ commanded we love God and love people.  My friends love Jesus, and they loved me on my birthday, and I am immensely thankful.
   So today, simply a statement from a teary eyed follower of Jesus saying if you love someone even this week, you may influence their life more than you can imagine.
Hunter