As we conclude this series on "Love Story and God's Glory", I pray you have been encouraged with a deeper treasuring of the Big Love Story of His redemption and a bigger vision for considering marriage for His glory!
There is a bigger story than our earthly love story. This story is the purpose of our lives and is the Love Story you are called to no matter what your earthly love story looks like. All of your life and relationships will flow from where you stand in this Love Story.
The Biggest Love Story – The Gospel - God created people to be in fellowship with Him, bringing joy to man and glory to God. But people sinned and broke our relationship with God. God showed His powerful love by sending His perfect Son Jesus to earth to die on the cross for people’s sins and rise victorious – offering forgiveness of sin, a restored relationship with God, and eternal life in Jesus. When we trust in Jesus to save us and give our lives to Him as our Lord, we become His - the Bride of Christ – forever.
This is the most beautiful Love Story of all time. All of life and human love stories point to this. Only when we grasp this Love Story will we be fulfilled, and be able to have the right approach to a human love story - lived in, from, and for this Love Story.
The Big Love Story - and a human love story - are about Jesus.
A love story based in Jesus, through His life in you, and for His glory.
A love story that points you and every one watching to Jesus.
A love story for His glory.
"...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
We are called to live, consider marriage, and marry to the glory of God - in a way that declares how good He is. Isn't this amazing and exciting? It twinkles with beauty - and the sweet reality is that God's glory and our joy always go hand-in-hand.
Let Jesus write your love story, friend. The One Who is Love and the creator of love can - and must - be trusted with the pen of your love story.
As you are satisfied in Jesus, growing into who He has called you to be, and are considering marriage for His glory, He will write the perfect story for His glory in your life.
Many of you know my favorite illustration to use when I talk about marriage - and I want to share it as we conclude this series.
Picture this:
You are running the race of life with Jesus. You are running with Him, in Him, and for Him with all of your might. You are loving the run and are satisfied in Him. As you run, you begun to think,"I'd sure love to have a running partner, but I don't see anyone around here."
At this point there are 2 decisions you can make.
1. You can let the thought enter your mind, "Maybe if I just get off course a little, I can find someone." This will both get you off course and cause you to likely end up with someone sitting on the sidelines, not running the race - causing heartache in both ways.
OR
2. You can keep running the race to know Jesus and make Him known with all that you are, and trust Him to bring someone who is running with the same passion. You can join paths and continue the race together as teammates. In this there is so much joy.
If He calls you to singleness, He will always be enough, you are fulfilling your purpose, and you can run the race fully satisfied in Jesus!
Whether single or married to someone who is running the race with Jesus, you are running the race and living the Big Love Story.
If it is His will for you to marry and He leads you into marriage, you and your husband can go on mission together to know Jesus and make Him known.
It is joining together as one in a love story founded on, thriving by, and for the glory of Jesus - as part of the Big Love Story for His glory!
I love these verses as we look at this, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!...And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12)
Two to walk with Jesus together, cheer one another on in Him, and lift one another up when they stumble. Companions and comrades on the journey with Jesus.
I have been so inspired by the love story of Charles and Susanna Spurgeon. Their mutual hearts that deeply loved Jesus, longed to grow in Him, and beat with passion to share Him formed such a unity and unusually beautiful marriage.
As you and the husband God gives you go on mission with Jesus together to:
- know Him
- grow in Him
- love and serve one another
- make Him known
it brings great glory to God, joy to your marriage, and blessing to others.
This union reflects Christ and the Church - the Big Love Story - to a world who needs Jesus.
Oh friends! Yesterday at church I saw a living example of what I wrote about in the last post - and my heart is still so full of joy. In the worship service there was an older couple in their 70s sitting in front of me. It was obvious from everything about them that they loved Jesus, one another, and others.
The darling older gentlemen with a twinkle in his eyes slipped into his seat before service after serving in the bookstore. His adorable wife gave him a warm smile and patted his leg. They sat there shoulder to shoulder, leaning against each other in their coordinating sweaters, soaking in the teaching of the Word. The older man lifted his hand in worship as we sang.
After service, the man slipped out to help in the bookstore again and we visited with his wife. Our conversation with her confirmed what was obvious in their living. As she warmly talked with joy shining from her eyes, it was clear they had spent their lives loving Jesus, loving one another, loving others, and living for Him and His Kingdom.
This is vision we want to keep before us for marriage - the vision of loving Jesus, loving others, and living for Him together in a way that points people to Jesus.
It begins with walking with Jesus this way ourselves, trusting Him to bring someone with the same heart, allowing Him to lead us into marriage, and then living for Him together every season of the journey as we grow and mature in Him!
A Love Story for His glory.
God is writing a story for His glory in your life as a part of the Big Love Story.
As you walk in love with Him, surrendered to His plan, embracing life with His love wherever He calls you, with the goal of making much of Him, whatever it holds will unfold - for your greatest good and His greatest glory.
He is calling you:
Seek Me.
Trust Me.
Follow Me.
Glorify Me wherever I place you.
I love you and have the best in store.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Walk hand-in-hand with Jesus and He will lead you in His Love Story for His glory. And there will be a happily ever after - and there will be no end.
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