Marriage That WorksSample

The Picture of Love Perhaps you thought your marriage was all about you and your spouse. Of course, if you have children, it’s important to them too. But beyond that, is it really anyone else’s business? True, fulfillment between husband and wife in a committed relationship is a main purpose of marriage. But there’s something much bigger going on in your marriage too. It’s not just a picture of human love. It points to a divine mystery—the relationship between Jesus and His bride. God designed it to be a reflection of a cosmic love story! * God’s covenant with His people was long seen by prophets and rabbis as a betrothal ceremony (Jeremiah 2:2). * Prophets talked about unfaithfulness in terms of “adultery.” * Jesus referred to Himself as the Bridegroom (John 3:29; Luke 5:34-35). * He compared His kingdom to a wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14). * The Book of Revelation ends with a wedding (Revelation 19:7; 21:2). A human marriage is a visible image of God’s big-picture plan for His eternal covenant with His people. This is why it demands unconditional love like God’s, and why a husband is called to love his wife so sacrificially and bring out her radiance (Ephesians 5:26). That might seem a little intimidating, especially in light of how imperfect our marriages appear to us. But where better to demonstrate unconditional love and grace than in a relationship that calls for it constantly? Where better to grow in unity than in a relationship that represents our spiritual union with Christ? The amazing depth and meaning of marriage is one of the Master Designer’s greatest works—a gift that connects us to His heart and purposes for this world.