The Marriage Game PlanSample

GOD’S BEST SELFIE

Marriage was created for more than our happiness as a couple. In marriage, a husband and wife are called to reflect God’s image and nature to others. Genesis 1:27 says: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” We like to say that marriage is God’s best selfie.

As couples who have committed to a lifelong marriage, we can show the world through our marriage covenant what Christlike love, forgiveness, sacrifice, and commitment mean. After all, marriage is one of the best places to practice being more like Christ, since there are countless moments of testing!

Ask any husband or wife and they will tell you the fruits of our human nature often emerge in what Galatians 5:19 calls “the acts of the flesh” such as strife, jealousy, fits of anger, self-ambition, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and envy. Instead of allowing the flesh to dominate our marriages, we should seek to display “the fruit of the Spirit” in our relationship: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23).

We have an indication of whether we are displaying the fruit of the Spirit or the works of the flesh by how we treat each other daily. If we are constantly arguing or living with dissension and divisions, we are not reflecting God’s image to the people around us. To reflect His image to a world that is hurting and looking for hope, we display marriages full of the fruit of the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit grows in us as individuals and couples when we cultivate a close relationship with God through praying, worshipping, and reading His Word. In turn, we will act like Him more and more. The truth is, the more we hang around someone who influences us, the more people around us can tell.

As couples, we are called to walk together and show the world the love that Christ showed us: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). If we follow His heart and design, we are well on our way to learning how to win the home game.

If marriage is “God’s best selfie,” what aspects of His character do you display well through your relationship? Where do you see room for growth?

This plan is presented to you by The Marriage Game Plan by George and Tondra Gregory. To learn more about this book, please click here.