The Process of Marriage

Getting married is an event. Staying married is a process. That is why it is called a “marriage relationship.” Understanding that relationships are the keys to life are easier said than done. It takes work to understand the process and to work the process. Our personal relationship with God is a work in process. God is doing His part in providing, listening to our constant pleas for help, and being patient with our lazy responses to His directions. We all know and realize that and so must resolve to do our part. Ephesians 2:10 teaches us that we are “His Workmanship” created in Christ Jesus to do “Good Works”. So what are our “good works?”

Well, they begin by seeing our “relationship” development as a “partnership”. A partnership describes “how” we are related to one another in that relationship. In other words, we are “working together” in a common purpose with a common plan, in a common process. God’s Word teaches us in Ephesians 1:11-12:

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. (NIV)

The term that is used in scripture in Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:8, Ephesians 5:31 to describe the marriage relationship as “one flesh” define that partnership with each other in marriage. The term that is used in scripture in 1 Corinthians 12:9-13, Ephesians 2:18 and 4:4, to define our spiritual relationship as “one spirit” defines our partnership with God.  But both define the process of our relationship with both. Thus we see the importance of God in the center of all relationships at all times.

It's all about Relationships!

What is life really all about? From the time one is born throughout their life-time and into eternity...it really is all about relationships. Relationships with our parents, our teachers, our friends, our spouse, our children, our grandchildren, our co-workers, our relatives, and most of all our relationship with God! Life is all about relationships! So why do we spend so little time learning how to build, how to repair, how to develop, how to make relationships. It truly is an art, but that is why we are called God's workmanship in Ephesians 2:10. The word literally means a work of art. So God is in the relationship development business also. God wants relationships to be right beginning with Him and then moving into our relationships with others. Can we learn how? Indeed we can as God's word teaches us. Follow the next few postings as we learn God's truth about relationships. As we learn how to love God and love People we will learn what "true Spiritual relationships" are all about. Join us on the journey!