PRACTICE FOR MARRIAGE

No, it’s not what you think. Most people practice and prepare for marriage in the wrong way and in the wrong areas. There is so much more about marriage than sex. People focus on the body, the physical aspect of marriage way too often. The most significant area of preparation that is needed is the spiritual area of our lives. It is the simplest to comprehend and yet the most difficult to do.

God created mankind, He created us as sexual beings, but more importantly, He created us as spiritual beings. Since we as people are so focused on the physical, we are well aware that there are distinct differences between men and women, but are we also aware that there are significant differences between men and women in the spiritual realm as well?

Without quoting a catalog of Scripture references to validate each point, I will just mention a few. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. Genesis 2:22 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. I Corinthians 11:3 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. I Corinthians 11:8-12

God’s design for marriage is unique to His plan and purpose for the relationship. He designed the relationship to reflect His relationship with His created beings, humans. He determined that both the man and the woman would have a personal relationship to Himself. Each were very valuable in His eyes. Though they were different from each other they both were designed to function at optimum effectiveness when they were in a close walk with Him. They were each given different functional purposes and equipped with traits and authority to fulfill God’s purposes.

Adam’s purpose was to function as the god of this world and maintain the Garden where they lived. Eve’s purpose was to help Adam in his calling and purpose, also as a god of this world. When Adam sinned their status of gods of this world was forfeited to Satan (Lucifer, Serpent), who assumed the title of god of this world. Though they lost the title and authority of “god of this world”, God’s purpose for them had not changed. Now it would be more difficult for them to complete His purpose for them.

God placed in the man the leadership position and vested him with authority to lead and guide his family. He placed the woman in the position of being a helper to the man and placed her under the man’s authority. She was also given authority over their children, but not over her husband. Adam is called to be in total submission to God, faithfully doing God’s will and loving his wife with all his heart, as God loved them. Eve was to submit to Adam’s authority and reverence him just as she submitted to God’s authority and reverenced the Lord.

Anyone, man or woman who is preparing for marriage should practice these attributes of Gods purpose for them. Men should practice yielding to God and obeying His will. This is the only way that a man may be well equipped to lead his family. Without putting the Lord first and being obedient to Him, the man would yield to his self-will and serve his own fleshly desires, alienating his wife. Women should practice being wives by fully submitting to the authority of God along with holding the Lord in the highest reverence. This is practice for the God designed and directed work for the wife of submitting to her husband’s authority in all things and revering him. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Ephesians 5:24 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5:33.

Practice your walk with God men, because you cannot be a good husband if you are not a man of God walking faithfully with God.

Ladies, practice being in sincere, full submission to God which is your faithful service to our Lord, revering Him and holding Him in awe and respect. The prescribed way that you are to treat God is the same way you are to treat your husband, willfully submitting yourself to your husbands will and leadership with sincerity, revering him as you do God. Your husband is not God, but he is God’s instituted head (leader and authority) over you.

All men and women are human, flawed and imperfect people who still have a divine calling, purpose and program for marriage that is of God’s design. Let’s PRACTICE being who and what God wants us to be, according to His Word. We cannot be a good spouse if we are not first a good child of our God and King.