We don’t live in isolation. That fact also applies to our marriages. The private fights you have with your spouse will bear public fruit. What kind of fruit are you producing for others to see?
According to Focus on the Family’s Dr. Greg Smalley our marriages speak louder than our words. How are you loving your spouse well? What are others seeing when they look at your relationship?
“We are never alone. We do have people around cheering; we have people who are watching.”
Both believers and nonbelievers are watching our marriage. Think of your life on a big movie screen, and the people in the audience are the people in your daily circle of life. Friends, neighbors, coworkers, church family. They all are watching the movie of your marriage. Some might be judging, but others are cheering you on.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says,
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Those who watch us will repeat our patterns. If we honor God, others will honor Him. Greg uses his parents as an example. They were married for 52 years before Greg’s father Gary went home to be with the Lord. Their relationship was not perfect, but their love and sacrifice were worth repeating. We can be aware of that same dynamic in our own lives.
“We have children who notice everything about our marriage. My hope for our kids is that we have a marriage that’s worth repeating.”
We don’t only have people in our corner as we walk this path. We have God Himself.
“We have God in our corner who’s cheering us on, who’s teaching those things. I think that’s another part of how we tell our story is to recognize God’s unfailing presence and help.”
At the end of your life, God wants you to be able to hold up your relationship to a watching world and say ‘by grace alone, in God’s strength, we honored Him with our marriage.’ It won’t be an easy journey, but it will make your relationship a marriage worth repeating – and a movie worth watching.
Key Scriptures: Philippians 4:8
Featured Songs: More Than Conquerors by Steven Curtis Chapman; Deeper by Meredith Andrews; Feel It by Toby Mac
