As modern Christians, we’ve received more revelation about God’s Word than perhaps any other time in human history. We’ve become sophisticated in formulating our thoughts and expressing our opinions about some aspects of His truth. It’s important we know that this can potentially cause more damage than good. Many of us have refused to allow the sovereignty of God and the order He established in the Old Testament to shape our reverence for Him under the new covenant that Christ has ushered in. Our Lord and Savior said in Matthew 5:17(NKJV), “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Jesus Christ came to do what we couldn’t do for ourselves. He restored our relationship with God, and because of this, we’ve been given the privilege to fully live and express His love and to do extraordinary works in the earth.
Jesus Christ said in John 14:12(NKJV), “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” As incredible as it may be to grasp, God has empowered us to do greater works above and beyond even those that our powerful Lord and Savior did when he carried forth his ministry on earth. Jesus Christ didn’t preach to the masses all over the world the way that we can, because the technology wasn’t available then. He couldn’t get on a plane and deliver food and support to those in other countries, but because of what God accomplished through Christ, we can do these things and so much more.
Our Heavenly Father tells us in Ephesians 1:3 that He’s blessed us with all spiritual blessings because of our union with Christ. It is His expectation that we will use the power, intelligence, and other spiritual blessings that He has provided. He expects us to step outside our comfort zones and be a blessing to others to our fullest potential. This is His Will, and we must remember continually that when it comes to our existences on earth, it isn’t our agenda we’re pursuing, it’s His.
Sadly, this memory about why we’re here gets a little foggy for many of us. We forget that we must seek God’s Will in all that we attempt to do, and that we must follow His Word to remain activated in the faith of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In Deuteronomy 11:26-28(NLT), God told His people living in Old Testament times, “26 “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! 27 You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today. 28 But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the LORD your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.” This standard of trusting God preeminently and following His Word faithfully has not changed. The blessing is contained in His Word, and it is unveiled in our lives as we walk upon His Word.
For some women, the approach to their quest for marriage is a concoction of socially accepted norms with little sprinkles of God’s standard here and there. When this is our approach, the results we receive will equal our lack of commitment to honor what God says. People whose hearts are not fully anchored in God have their treasures here on earth. Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 6:19 that those will decay, be corrupted or stolen. That’s not where we want to be.
Our Lord and Master commands in Matthew 6:20(NLT), “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” When our treasures are in heaven, the home of our all-powerful, glorious God, our hearts will be there too. We will shift our approach to the one that Jesus Christ requires in Matthew 6:33(NLT), which is to “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Now is not the time to feign allegiance to God’s Word and seek other avenues to the path of His blessings. That will get us nowhere. God is looking at whether and how you truly honor and love Him with your full commitment and heart. Being fully persuaded and sold out to Him through obedience and faith is the posture that releases the provisions of everything we need, including the support and care of the one God sends to walk with us through life.
The prophet said in Isaiah 48:17 (NLT) “This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.” We must read and study God’s Word and follow His path to marriage. The attitude of “I didn’t know” is not a valid excuse for skipping over the confessions, behaviors, thoughts, actions, and feelings that please God. His Word is too accessible for that to work. If our approach is to deny what God says, it will not lead us to marriage. The wisdom of Proverbs 21:2(NLT) says, “People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.” We must have a heart that pleases the Father, and when we’re doing everything within our power to make this our reality, He will bless us with a marriage that is everything He desires it to be.■
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Why Your Current Approach Isn’t Leading You to Marriage”, written by Kim Times, edited by Fran Mack and KLizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2024. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.