If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
If the world sees us speaking, or prophesying, or giving or even surrendering – but we don’t have love – we are nothing.
And if we aren’t loving the person we stood in a church and committed ourselves to loving – then what good is it?
Paul says:
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:3-32
It’s a testimony to Jesus and his body, a demonstration to the world, of what the power of Christ can do in us together.
As two learn to live and work and serve together – the world gets to see the power of unity in Christ.
Jesus said, “Whatever you’ve done for the least of these my brothers, you’ve done it to me.” Matthew 25:40
The Deal is – most think of the least as the homeless, slaves, street people, the abused – and to the World – yes that’s true.
But least is about vulnerability – who you do have the ability to hurt or to heal – that is the person you live your life with.
Paul finishes his speech at the end of Ephesians interestingly by talking about slaves and masters (which is really just a continuation of the marriage talk – if you know what I mean) by saying,
“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.” (Ephesians 6:7) because you are. So our prayer for your marriage is from Romans 15:5-7.
“May God who gives his patience and encouragement help you to live in complete harmony with each other each with the attitude of Christ Jesus towards the other. [What’s that attitude?] So accept each other just as Christ accepted you and then God will be glorified.”
Then the world will not see you and your spouse – they will see Jesus and his church.
That is my prayer for all of you reading this. Understand that the most vulnerable people in the world are the people in your own home. Treat them like Jesus.
