“…A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” – Ephesians 5:31 (NLT)
Beloved, the main purpose of marriage is to glorify God and to be a representation of how Christ loves the church. In confirmation of our commitment to the marriage vows presented by the presiding Priest, both bride and groom reply in the affirmative, “I do.” This covenant is not only committing to each other in companionship but also committing to everything. Nothing or no one comes before your spouse except God. He is the centerpiece of every marriage.
The “I do” dictates that both husband and wife have the responsibility of being gatekeepers of the marriage covenant and ensuring that there is no toxic outside interference in the couple’s marital affairs by in-laws or so-called friends.
The resounding “I do” commits the union to persevere to ensure that the household is preserved and protected from every diabolical attack of the enemy. He may turn up at your workplace and work through his emissaries, such as colleagues and/or a prejudiced manager. At your place of business in the form of corrupt employees whose intention is to bankrupt your operation and bring it into disrepute, or in the House of God as false brethren, i.e., wolf in sheep’s clothing to test your faith.
With the “I do” covenant firmly in place, the home is not a war zone but a place of refuge, rest, and recuperation from life challenges. A loving home environment where the presence and shalom of God have been cultivated enables the married couple to be re-fired and recharged to face another day.
Beloved, the “I do” must never be degraded to “I don’t,” for the breaking of the covenant will definitely lead to divorce, which snowballs into division and dissolving of the family unit, division of property, fragile children left at the mercy of predators and the engendering of a flood of curses upon future generations from the template set.
It is a fact that at the beginning, every marriage has its own set of unique internal problems; however, when we invite God’s intervention, keep the doors of communication open, and humbly address our indifferences, the marriage marinates with maturity. We must fight for our marriage, and if there is a need to attend marriage counselling and marriage seminars to keep the fire of love burning, let’s do it and preserve the “I do.”
The “I do” commitment to our marriage vows is a lifetime covenant. There is no expiry date. Once we are breathing, we are bound to that covenant. Husbands and wives, God mandates you and I to fight for our marriage and family so that He (God) will be glorified.
Read: Genesis 2:18; 1 Corinthians 7:2-5
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 39; Luke 8:19-39; Numbers 29:12-40; Numbers 30; Numbers 31:1-24
