Jesus has made us a family
Love each other in practical ways
Honor marriage, flee adultery
Don’t live for money or things today
Chorus
Fast, Fast, Hold fast
Hold fast to Jesus the Better One
Near, Near, Draw Near
Draw near to God through His only Son
Our God will never, never leave us
He is the source of ev’ry good thing
So we can share what God gives to us
We need not fear for we know the King
(Repeat Chorus)
© 2023 Brian J. Mikul
(Sing to tune of “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”)
[Wives:] But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle (meek) and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. – I Peter 3:4 ESV (Other Translations)
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding (considerate) way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. – I Peter 3:7 ESV (Other Translations)
Wives are to have a gentle and quiet spirit that comes out in their words and actions. But husbands too must be gentle if they are to be considerate of their wives and honor them. In whatever way women are the weaker vessel, it requires husbands then to be gentle with them.
And husbands and wives, like all people, can be weak and bruised and weary from the trials and struggles of this world. And so they need to be gentle with each other.
This is the great test of gentleness. It is easy to put on show in public, but what are we like at home? Are we gentle with each other, or are we harsh, brawling, loud, or manipulative?
Every marriage would improve greatly if gentleness ruled in our homes. God calls us to grow in gentleness.
If you are married, are you gentle with your spouse?
Does gentleness rule in your home?
How might you need to be more gentle toward your spouse this week?
Here are some good posts on marriage:
Ten Diagnostic Questions for Your Marriage – Kevin DeYoung
10 Things You Should Know About Male Headship – Sam Storms
10 Things You should Know about Female Submission – Sam Storms
Here are some good posts on the family:
Why Satan Hates Your Family – Tim Challies
10 Principles for Christian Husbands and Fathers – Jason Helopoulos
Making Jesus Central in Your Family’s Life – Jamie Brown
Here are some more helpful posts to help Christians think through the recent Supreme Court’s decision on “same-sex marriage.”
Everything Has Changed and Nothing Has Changed: The Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage – Albert Mohler
Why the Gay Marriage Debate Was Over in 1950 – Joel Miller
How Christians Can Show Countercultural Resolve on Marriage – Jennifer Marshall (TGC)
Dear Christian Friends: Remember you are not Home – Erik Raymond (TGC)
How Should You Talk to Your Children About Same-Sex Marriage? – Russell Moore
40 Questions for Christians Now Waving Rainbow Flags – Kevin DeYoung
Here is an overview and some helpful initial responses to yesterday’s Supreme Court “same-sex marriage” decision. Don’t miss the last two especially.
Supreme Court rules gay couples nationwide have a right to marry – Robert Barnes (WP)
Here are the key excerpts on religious liberty from the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage – Sarah Pulliam Bailey (WP)
Why the church should neither cave nor panic about the decision on gay marriage – Russell Moore (WP)
What Your Church Needs to Know—and Do—About the Court’s Marriage Ruling – Erik Stanley (TGC)
But What Does The Bible Say? – Kevin DeYoung
So-Called Same-Sex Marriage: Lamenting the New Calamity – John Piper (DG)
I was talking to some other pastors this week about same-sex marriage, and we noted the great confusion on the Biblical Christian teaching on this issue, especially in the views of our young people. So here are a few helpful posts to help us keep thinking through the issue:
Five Questions for Christians Who Believe the Bible Supports Gay Marriage – Kevin DeYoung
Should We Support Gay Marriage? NO – Wolfhart Pannenberg
The Solemnization of Matrimony – Kevin DeYoung
Here are some good posts on the family:
Marriage on the Edge of Eternity – Francis Chan
(It might be time to rethink our focus…)
10 Ways to Exercise Christlike Headship – Owen Strachan
(It may not be what you think…)
5 Reasons We Eat Together as a Family – Tim Challies
(Some good reasons for an important family practice…)
Here are some good posts to ponder on marriage:
8 Bullet Points on Marriage – Tim Challies
Marriage Defined – Borrowed Light
6 Deadly Enemies of Marriage – Tim Challies
Here are some good posts on marriage:
Affair Proof and Divorce Proof Your Marriage in 2 Hours a Week – Gary Thomas
After years of reading, writing, speaking, traveling, and pastoral counseling, I’ve identified two things that, when they are in place, can almost guarantee you that your spouse won’t have an affair and that you won’t get a divorce. But you need to do both. I didn’t come up with these; I’m just recognizing them. You’ve heard of both of them, there’s nothing new here, but consider these two elements as the “canary in the mine.” If your marriage has both elements, the “air” in your mine is fresh and healthy and your marriage is probably fairly stable. If one or both of them die, the air is getting poisoned, and you need to take caution. Your marriage is now much more vulnerable to disintegration….
18 Things I Will Not Regret Doing With My Wife – Tim Challies
Here are 18 things I know I will never regret doing with my wife.
1. Praying with her. It took too long for the two of us to begin to really pray together; even now, we have a long way to go. But we have learned the importance of praying together and never regret the times we spend together before the Lord….
18 Things I Will Not Regret Doing With My Husband – Aileen Challies
So here are 18 things I will not regret doing with my husband.
1. Dating him. Because Tim is a pastor, Monday is usually his day off. But like most days off, our Mondays are usually filled with chores (and in his case, writing). But one thing we always try to do is to get away from the house and go out for some time and some lunch. I will never regret setting aside that time to be together….
Brian J. Mikul 