Day 30
Love brings unity
Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. —John 17:11
One of the most impressive things about the Bible is the way it is beautifully linked together, with consistent themes running throughout its sixty-six books, working in harmony to share God’s redemptive plan from beginning to end. Though it interweaves His revelations to forty different authors over a span of 1,600 years, each with various backgrounds and skill levels, God sovereignly inspired His Word with one united voice. And He continues to powerfully speak through it today with perfect relevance without ever changing His message.
Unity. Togetherness. Oneness. These are the unshakable hallmarks of our God.
From the very beginning of time, we see His unity at work through the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father is there, creating the heavens and the earth. The Spirit is there as well, “moving over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). And the Son, “the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3), joins in speaking the world into existence. “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). Us. Our. All three, always in perfect oneness of mind and purpose.
Centuries later we see Jesus, having come to earth as a man, rising from the waters of baptism as the Spirit descends upon Him like a dove, and the Father announces over this majestic scene, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
Father, Son, and Spirit are in pristine unity. They serve each other, love each other, and honor each other. Though perfect and unsurpassed, they rejoice when the other is praised. Though distinct, they are one, indivisible.
And because this relationship is so special—so representative of the vastness and grandeur of God—He has chosen to let us experience one aspect of it very personally. In the unique relationship of husband and wife, two distinct individuals are spiritually united into “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). And “what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Mark 10:9 NIV).
In fact, this mystery is so compelling—and the love between husband and wife so intertwined and complete—God designed the imagery of marriage to reflect and explain His love for the church. The church (the Bride) is most satisfied when its Savior is worshipped and celebrated. Christ (the Bridegroom), who has given Himself up for her, is pleased and honored when He sees her “as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27 NIV). Both Christ and the church love and honor the other.
That’s the beauty of unity. It always strengthens relationships and homes, while division always destroys them.
What would happen in your marriage, husband, if you devoted yourself to loving, honoring, and serving your wife in all things? What if you determined that the preservation of your oneness with this woman was worth every sacrifice and expression of love you could make? What if you wisely navigated through conversations and misunderstandings in such a way to guard the unity between you?
What would happen, wife, if you made it your mission to do everything possible to promote togetherness of heart with your husband? What if every threat to your unity was treated as a poison, a cancer, an enemy to be eliminated by the medicines of love, humility, respect, and selflessness? What would your marriage become if you were never again willing to see your oneness torn apart?
What if we took these words of the apostle Paul to heart? “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
Oneness in marriage requires keeping each other on the same page. It means communication must become constant so that union can be constantly enjoyed. It means sharing your thoughts, values, decisions, and upcoming plans, interweaving your lives together so that you maintain one heart, decide in one accord, and speak with one voice. And whenever anything or anyone disrupts your unity, you both quickly do whatever it takes to resolve it and restore it. To agree again.
The unity of the Trinity, as seen from beyond the reaches of history past and continuing on into the future, gives evidence to the power of oneness. It is unbreakable. It is unending. It is wonderful. And it is this same spiritual reality that disguises itself each day at your home and mailing address. Though painted in the colors of work schedules and doctor visits and trips to the grocery store, oneness is the eternal thread that runs through the daily experience of what we call “our marriage” and gives it a purpose to be defended for life.
Therefore, love this one who is as much a part of your body as you are. Serve this one whose needs cannot be separated from your own. Honor this one who, when raised upon the pedestal of your love, raises you both up as a clearer reflection of God, all at the same time.
TODAY'S DARE
Isolate one area of division in your marriage and pray about it. Ask the Lord to reveal anything in your own heart that is threatening oneness in your marriage. Pray that He would open up the communication lines so that you can find more agreement and stay on the same page. And if appropriate, discuss this matter openly, seeking God for unity.
____ Check here when you’ve completed today’s dare.
Did the Lord open your eyes to anything new that might be giving fuel to this point of disagreement? How do you intend to respond? What do you hope to see God do in your spouse as well?
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