Beautiful Messes – Week 1
LOVE AND MARRIAGE
Relationships can be beautiful, but they are also messy. In this message we explore two crucial shifts that can bring more beauty to our most intimate of relationships.
24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. 25 Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame. Genesis 2:24-25
Self-focus ruins relationships. “Me” will destroy “we”.
The first major shift we need to make is that marriage isn’t me-centered, or even spouse-centered, it is to be Jesus-centered.
In every marriage there are three persons: Husband, wife, and Jesus. The closer each spouse grows toward Jesus, the closer they can grow together.
If you’re single, single-again, in middle or high school – if you want a Jesus-centered relationship one day, begin living a Jesus-centered relationship today.
The second major shift we need to make is seeing marriage as a covenant not a contract.
4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’[a]” 5 And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’[b] 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” Matthew 19:4-6
14 You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows. Malachi 2:14
God is a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God and expects the same from us.
Next Steps:
- Shift from me-centered to Jesus-centered in your relationships.
- Shift from viewing your relationship as a contract to a covenant.
- Shift your actions by taking one step to practically live out the first two Next Steps.