Traffic Signs and Your Marriage - Part 1Sample

Yield

Devotional Content:

I was driving through my neighborhood this morning. It was a beautiful day. I saw a friend jogging toward me. I looked over to wave at him about the same time I passed a YIELD sign. I was supposed to slow down or stop to let the other driver enter the lane before I did. Luckily, I looked up in time to hit my brakes before I hit another car. Close call because I did not obey the YIELD sign.

The YIELD sign in marriage means to be unselfish even when I do not feel like it. It’s the call to “in humility consider others more important than yourself.” (Phil. 2:4). There are times I get it and there are times I do not want to get it. I have said for years that the number one problem in marriage is selfishness. I should know - I can achieve professional status in this area.

As Christians, we follow Christ, who yielded his will upon the cross. As imitators of Christ in our marriage, we can follow his example, as Philippians 2 teaches, to“Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.” If anyone on earth had the right to insist on his way, it would be him. But Jesus modeled his way of self-sacrifice and servant love.

I have made an interesting observation. When I am driving and obey the YIELD sign, I never have a problem. I never had a wreck from obeying the YIELD sign. In my marriage, when I am unselfish, my marriage is really good. Do you know that Nancy and I have never, ever had a fight when I was being unselfish? Amazing, huh?

What if you use this to help you practice building your spouse up for their good (Romans 15)? What if you envisioned a YIELD sign right next to your spouse? Then, what if you obeyed it? Finally, what if you did that day after day after day? You’d probably have an awesome marriage?

Today’s Challenge:

1. When you are driving how do you handle YIELD signs?

2. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, how selfish are you in your marriage?

3. How has selfishness affected your marriage?

Going Deeper:

Together make a YIELD sign to put on your refrigerator. Let it be a reminder for both of you to choose to YIELD instead of being selfish.