stephen R Harrison

JOY 365: Day 9

 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love. -Ecclesiastes 9:9

Today, my wife and I met a couple for lunch. I am preaching their wedding in March, and we met to talk about marriage. My wife asked them how they met, and they said through a mutual friend. I asked how they met the Lord. Their testimonies of salvation brought me great joy. They asked us what the “secret” to a peaceful marriage was, and my wife quickly answered, “a growing relationship with Jesus.” Often, when a couple is having marriage problems, I ask them about their relationship with Christ. I’ll ask, “Are you reading your Bible? Are you spending time in prayer? How’s your fellowship with the Lord?” How they answer reflects on their marriage.  

We were excited to hear about this couple’s relationship with Jesus. Their marriage will be rooted in Christ. How wonderful! The Lord created marriage. It’s the first relationship outside of one with Him that we see in the Scriptures. It is the means through which Jesus shows us His relationship with the church. One thing that grows my wife’s and my intimacy is time spent individually with Jesus. When we allow Him to shape us, it produces His character. He produces humility, service, honor, grace, and love towards one another. Helping other marriages grow in Christ helps us grow in Christ. Today I got to “enjoy life with my wife, whom I love” (Ecclesiastes 9:9).

Are you able to enjoy your spouse? How does time spent in the Lord affect your relationship?