Reach4Life- Journey 3: LiveSample

DAY NINE: MARRIAGE & FAMILY

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:21, NIV

LISTEN

You may have experienced pain because of broken relationships in your home. Perhaps your parents have never married, have been unfaithful, got divorced, or fight with each other. Possibly you have a strained or non-existent relationship with your parents.

The result could be that you have lost hope for your family and possible future marriage. Here’s fresh hope…

LOOK

Ephesians 5:21-6:4

LEARN

What’s God’s plan for marriage?

Out of respect and love for Christ, Christians must learn how to submit to one another (5:21). This means that husbands and wives should treat one another with the same love and respect they have for the Lord. No one must dominate or control the other. They should always work as a loving team, not as competitors, strangers or enemies. In the same way Christ seeks closeness to his church, so married couples should seek closeness with each other (5:32). The word head (5:23) doesn’t mean boss, but rather source of strength and protection. The husband is to serve his wife, sacrificing himself for her like Jesus did for the church (5:25). It means he must not abuse his power or neglect his wife’s emotional needs.

What’s God’s plan for family?

Children should obey and honour their parents (6:1-2). Parents shouldn’t discourage their kids with a lack of love or unfairness. They should rather keep pointing them to God through their own life-example and words (6:4).

What a blessing such marriages and families are to each other, to God and to the world!

LIVE

· What experiences have you had of other people’s marriages?

· If you want to marry one day, how can you start preparing now?

· How can you please God in your family right now?

LINK

For more on Marriage & Family, read:

Matthew 19:4-6