Leading Each Other in Christ - Crosswalk Couples Devotional - April 30
Crosswalk Couples Devotional
Audio By Carbonatix
By Vivian Bricker, Crosswalk.com
Leading Each Other in Christ
By Vivian Bricker
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Marriages are either built upon God or not. There is no way to be half-built upon God and half-built upon the world. Each married couple has to choose whether they are going to live for God and build their marriages on Him or not. Many people might think this is an easy decision, but it is harder to put into practice. Similar to other things in the Bible, we have to apply God's teachings into our life.
We cannot claim to build our marriages on God only to deny it in our actions. God sees our hearts, and He knows if we are truly following Him in our marriage. God created marriage, but that doesn't mean mankind hasn't perverted it and made it into something it is not. Even as Christians, we need to ensure we are not making the same mistake in our own lives.
If we choose to follow God, then our marriages will look much different than the marriages around us. We won't be as focused on materialism, buying the biggest house, or being the "perfect" couple or family. Instead, our top priority will be God and His will. This might not look as aesthetic as other people's marriages, but we are focusing on our telos of following God and glorifying Him in our marriage.
This will make our marriage look different from those who are not following God. This might mean we leave the comforts of our home life to serve the Lord on the mission field. Other people might think we are out of our minds to do this, yet when God calls us to do something, we should obey (Acts 5:29). The devil will also be especially focused on Christ-honoring marriages because he wants to destroy them.
Even though the devil wants to do this, we can take our stand against him. The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will fight against him on our behalf and equip us with what we need in order to overcome him. However, this cannot happen if our marriages are far from God. We cannot expect to be close to God if we are living in sin and disobeying Him in our lives.
In order to follow God in our marriages, we will have to love our spouses, stay faithful to them, and be there for them in any and every season of life. Marriage is not for the weak of heart, as it will be difficult and trying at times. However, through these difficult times, we will learn much. Marriage is a learning process and a chance to grow in our faith, our life, and our relationship.
The Apostle Paul tells us, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul was known to be faithful to the Gospel and to the call to follow Christ. When Paul tells the Corinthian Church that they need to follow his example as he follows the example of Christ, he also tells this to us today. As modern-day believers, we are called to follow Christ's example and glorify Him in all we do.
By following Christ's example, we will be able to lead our spouse in faith. Whether you are the husband or the wife, you are called to lead each other in Christ. You should always point your spouse to Jesus and extend His love in your actions. Doing this will demonstrate a love for the Lord in your actions, and your marriage will be transformed.
Even if you have not done this yet, know that you can start today. Leading one another in Christ is beautiful and can be done by the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. Continue to lean on God and be faithful to His teachings. He will equip you with everything you need to love your spouse without conditions and to truly be the hands and feet of Christ to them. Marriage involves service, love, and faithfulness, all of which God can help you with as you continue on this journey.
"Dear Jesus, I have not done the best at leading my spouse in You. I have been preoccupied with other people's marriages to the point that I have neglected my own. Help my spouse and I to glorify You in our marriage and to lead one another in You. Thank You for listening to my prayers, Amen."
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/bojanstory
Vivian Bricker obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, followed by a Master of Arts with an emphasis in theology. She loves all things theology, mission work, and helping others learn about Jesus. Find more of her content at Cultivate: https://cultivatechristianity.wordpress.com/.
Related Resource: 3 Simple Ways to Feed Your Spouse More Praise
How often do you intentionally stop to praise your spouse? To recognize and affirm their character or actions? Many of us probably cringe at answering these questions because we know we could do better! If you struggle to feed your spouse praise regularly, this episode is for you. Listen in as we share some practical steps we all can take to criticize less and affirm and build up our spouse more. If this episode helps your marriage, be sure to subscribe to Team Us on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
