June
Text Box: Pastor's Thoughts June, I have heard it called the wedding month. I have been given the privilege of performing many weddings over the years. It is a pleasure to meet with a bride and her soon to be husband and discuss the ceremony that will unite the couple for life. Some weddings are small and a bit informal, while others are costly and elaborate, but in the end, both serve the intended purpose. Weddings are not simply a tradition. They reach far beyond being a mere religious ceremony. A wedding has at its heart a promise, a deep bond of commitment and resolution to include another in their journey through this world. Vows are exchanged before witnesses and God, bride and groom pledge to be faithful one to another, and most importantly our Heavenly Father joins the two persons into a single family unit. The wedding is over and the marriage begins. The promises, commitments and resolve vowed by both parties are now to be expressed in a lifelong relationship, established and founded upon true biblical love. Every wedding that ends in a kiss is a success, but not every relationship that begins with a wedding become a successful marriage. Love must endure, sacrifices must be made, wills must bend and embrace personal differences enabling both spouses to submit and care for each other. May I say at this point, the same Heavenly Father that joins a couple together is there to keep them together provided He is asked and His guidance is respected and honored. The same is true of our salvation. It begins much like a wedding, Jesus stands ready to share his love and promises with each of us and we in turn pledge to leave behind our tattered lives of sin and shame to be joined with Him in eternal bliss. Paul makes this comparison in Ephesians: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph 5:25-27 KJV. Jesus' keeps His promises, His commitment to His bride will endure with the passing of time. He is fully invested in the marriage. But what about you? What about your relationship with Christ, not just your salvation experience, but your marital relationship? Are you being faithful to your commitment to Jesus?