BLESSED WITH THE BEST

Day 7

Marriage Mission

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20

What is your mission?

We both shared similar feelings about this from an early point in our relationship. We loved the idea of serving the people around us, and we wanted to do our best to lead people to Jesus, so we asked God to help us do just that. Once we tied the knot, we wanted our marriage to be a representation of what God originally intended marriage to look like.

In today’s culture, the value of marriage has become nearly depleted. In the TV shows and movies we watch, in the news we read and even in the church, you see loveless marriages and divorce becoming more normal. For us, this was a burden God placed on our hearts. Thankfully, we have been given opportunities over the years, even before we were married, to teach about love and purity in classroom settings. As individuals, we have done things that we regret and made terrible mistakes. We live a far from perfect marriage. Despite our faults and by His grace, God continues opening doors for us to be a testimony for Christian marriage. He will do the same for you and your spouse when you surrender your marriage as a living witness of His love and grace.

As Christians, we are called to be representatives of Jesus. Your marriage is a great tool for displaying God’s love. Together, you can be a light in your friend circles, around your relatives and within your community. Understand this−you hold a tremendous amount of influence in the way you and your spouse choose to walk out your marriage.

PRAYER
God, thank You for the love You continuously pour out for us. Help us to always remember that love as we walk through our days together. Help us both to be mindful of our surroundings and to always be intentional about placing Your love on full display. We pray that You will use us to reveal Yourself to the people around us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.


Day 8
Serving Together

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:”
1 Peter 4:10

Each of you has special gifts that may be similar to or completely different from those of your spouse. The only way to fully embrace your natural and spiritual gifts is to use them for growing God’s kingdom. Your gifts will be used to their fullest potential when you allow God’s power to infiltrate all parts of your life. By using your gifts for God’s purposes, you are dedicating your life to serving the ultimate source of your gifts.

This greatly impacts the level of health and satisfaction of your marriage. God created you perfectly for each other—not by accident but for a divine purpose. One of your gifts is very likely just the encouragement or missing piece that your spouse needs. By identifying and using your gifts, you can be the firepower behind your spouse achieving his or her God-given purpose. Imagine that amazing picture of perfect love! God is using you, an imperfect human, to complement your spouse so perfectly. The two of you together can choose to advance his Gospel by surrendering to Christ and encouraging one another.

Once you and your spouse identify each of your gifts, look for ways to work together to serve the Church. How can you combine your gifts to advance a cause, meet a need or achieve a goal? God promises His supernatural power to a couple that dedicates their lives to serving His Kingdom. When you lean into His Word together, ask God to help you see how He wants you to combine your gifts for His purposes.

PRAYER
Father, we are so thankful that You created us for a very specific purpose. Thank You for the special talents and skills You have blessed us with. Help us to use those gifts for the purposes that You originally intended. Help us find ways to serve each other and to serve You through those gifts. We love You and thank You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.