Married to Jesus
The analogy Paul gives us in Romans 7:4 really helps us understand what it means to be a Christian. We are married to Jesus. We do not just pray a prayer or adopt a philosophy of life. It is a relationship with another person, the Lord Jesus Christ. That relationship is to be growing and producing fruit.
Marriage begins when we make a permanent commitment to form a covenant relationship with our husband or wife forever. The same is true when we come to know Christ. Faith is a commitment, and it is forever. We give our vows to Him to be faithful and true to Him throughout the relationship, which in the case of being a Christian is forever.
In marriage we grow to love each other more and more. We know each other better and better with each passing year. The same is true when we come to know Christ, as Lord and Savior. We are to live every day communicating with Him and cooperating with Him, so that we grow to be like Him.
Finally, marriages are designed by God to bear fruit. We can do together much more than we can do separately, including having children. God brings us together for a reason, and as we find that reason and fulfill that purpose, we bear fruit for His kingdom. The Christian's relationship with Jesus is similar. We are not saved just to go to heaven. He has some fruit for us to bear as we allow Him to supply the direction and the power. He wants us to bear spiritual children, too, by sharing the gospel with others. Then, we help nurture them in the Lord, so they become mature believers.
I pray that we all will meditate on this analogy, so that we can excel in our marriage relationship with Jesus.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 8-11.
Marriage begins when we make a permanent commitment to form a covenant relationship with our husband or wife forever. The same is true when we come to know Christ. Faith is a commitment, and it is forever. We give our vows to Him to be faithful and true to Him throughout the relationship, which in the case of being a Christian is forever.
In marriage we grow to love each other more and more. We know each other better and better with each passing year. The same is true when we come to know Christ, as Lord and Savior. We are to live every day communicating with Him and cooperating with Him, so that we grow to be like Him.
Finally, marriages are designed by God to bear fruit. We can do together much more than we can do separately, including having children. God brings us together for a reason, and as we find that reason and fulfill that purpose, we bear fruit for His kingdom. The Christian's relationship with Jesus is similar. We are not saved just to go to heaven. He has some fruit for us to bear as we allow Him to supply the direction and the power. He wants us to bear spiritual children, too, by sharing the gospel with others. Then, we help nurture them in the Lord, so they become mature believers.
I pray that we all will meditate on this analogy, so that we can excel in our marriage relationship with Jesus.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 8-11.