First of all, thank you for stopping by today! It is indeed a very special day today. Thanks to E-Mom at C H R Y S A L I S, the first Monday of each month is "Marriage Monday", all hosted by different Christian women around the grand old blogosphere. So, with that said, we are all so happy that you took the time to come and see the postings for this month's "Marriage Monday" topic, The Glory of Christian Marriage". (Since this is my first time using Mr. Linky, if for ANY reason Mr. Linky doesn't work, please leave a comment with a link to your post. Otherwise, just use Mr. Linky!)
As I was sitting here in the study, gazing out the window to the street below, trying to decide where I wanted to go with this article, I noticed a couple out walking together. While that sounds sweet...."awwww, a couple out walking together", it just so happens that to me, it's very sad. You see, I happen to know that couple from around our neighborhood. The sadness to me is that they (like so many) are living together, but are not married to each other. There is no possible way that they can know what Rob and I share as a married couple. With them, there is no real commitment, much less a covenant of marriage. The world would like us to think that this is what should really be acceptable in our society. But to me, it's sad. The dictionary defines the word "glory" as:
glo⋅ry /ˈglɔri, ˈgloʊri/[glawr-ee, glohr-ee] noun, plural -ries, adjective, verb, -ried, -ry⋅ing, interjection
–noun
1. very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown: to win glory on the field of battle.
2. something that is a source of honor, fame, or admiration; a distinguished ornament or an object of pride: a sonnet that is one of the glories of English poetry.
3. adoring praise or worshipful thanksgiving: Give glory to God.
4. resplendent beauty or magnificence: the glory of autumn.
5. a state of great splendor, magnificence, or prosperity.
6. a state of absolute happiness, gratification, contentment, etc.: She was in her glory when her horse won the Derby.
7. the splendor and bliss of heaven; heaven.
8. a ring, circle, or surrounding radiance of light represented about the head or the whole figure of a sacred person, as Christ or a saint; a halo, nimbus, or aureole.
9. anticorona.
–verb (used without object) 10. to exult with triumph; rejoice proudly (usually fol. by in): Their father gloried in their success.
11. Obsolete. to boast.
–interjection
12. Also, glory be. Glory be to God (used to express surprise, elation, wonder, etc.).
—Idioms
13. glory days or years, the time of greatest achievement, popularity, success, or the like: the glory days of radio.
14. go to glory, to die. Also, go to one's glory.
Origin:
1300–50; ME <>adverb
Synonyms: 1. fame, eminence, celebrity. 4. brilliance, refulgence, effulgence.
Antonyms: 1. disgrace, obloquy.
The "glory" of our marriage is found in the fact that, like the definition above, our relationship is "something that is a source of honor, fame or admiration; a distinguished ornament or object of pride". Further, like the definition, marriage (can be/should be) a "state of absolute happiness, gratification and contentment". Now, I know what you are thinking right now....we're not always happy, gratified and content with our spouses. But, compared to the couple who is living in an uncommitted and un-glorifying relationship, the Christian marriage relationship has been afforded opportunities that these other relationships will never see. They may "believe" that they know how their partner "feels" about them, but do they really and truly know? Since there has been no holy covenant, no vows and no public commitment, their relationship is reduced to nothing more than a "maybe". I don't know about you, but I relish in the fact that Rob and I are committed to each other...and only to each other. There was no mention of the "D" word when we said our vows. In fact, in our Sunday School class last Sunday, we began a new study called "I Promise", that was written by Gary Smalley. We were challenged to list the reasons that we "shouldn't" divorce. I will tell you that when I tried to list them, I got so teary eyed that I couldn't finish. I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach just "thinking" about what it would be like without my husband...in fact, I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT! I love him too much and cannot even entertain the thought of anything but death separating us. I totally understand that there are many (including my husband) who have experienced the terrible pain of divorce in their time. It is a very sad and lonely state to be in. It's earth shattering to the one who is experiencing it. I pray that those who have had to suffer this horrible time in their lives would find grace and peace in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that HE has been the one to heal the pain that my own husband had to experience in years past. And, God was good to both of us when he blessed both of us with each other. HE has been so merciful to Rob and I, even in light of the past mistakes that we have made. HE has been the one to bring GLORY to HIMSELF in the past circumstances that we have faced. This is the other part of the "glory" of the Christian marriage. God WILL bring glory to HIMSELF. We are living and breathing testimonies to this. Without the Lord, our marriage would have failed almost as quickly as we entered into it. The antonym to "glory" is "disgrace", and that is a place that I do not want to be in my relationship with Rob. I thank the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for the holy covenant that HE has given to us in marriage so that we can not only experience "glory" in our relationship, but that we can ultimately bring "glory" to our Father.
Labels: Marriage Monday Articles
