A Shot In The Arm

The Cambridge Dictionary (on-line) explains the meaning of this idiom this way: “Something that has a sudden and positive effect...providing encouragement and new activity.” In this fifth post in which I am seeking to help strengthen marriages, I want to provide a shot in the arm for husbands and wives with this admonition. Nothing will have a greater positive effect that also provides encouragement than remembering that marriage is a covenant (Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:14). In other words, it is a solemn bond and agreement between a husband and a wife, made before God and other witnesses, which means each spouse should remain faithful to the vows they made when there were married. 

 

Remembering and living out this covenant will bring at least the following seven benefits to your marriage.

 

1. It will help you remember the importance of your marriage to fulfilling the theological purpose that stands behind it of imaging God’s covenant with us, including the relationship of Christ with His bride (Malachi 2:14; Ephesians 5:32). 

 

2. It will remind you that one of the most important responsibilities and joys you have in your marriage is for you to carry out the vows you made to your spouse and for you to maintain and pursue peace with them (Gen. 2:24; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 19:3-9; Romans 12:18).

 

3. It will keep before you the key to loving and remaining faithful to your spouse when it is hard, to remember that you keep your covenant because God, through Christ, has made covenant with you and thus committed Himself to empower you with all you need to carry out His will, including His will in your marriage (Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Luke 22:20; 2 Corinthians 9:8).

 

4. Related to the previous point, God has committed Himself to be with you, to be your God, and for you to be part of his people (Leviticus 26:12), through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). 

 

5. Related to the previous two points, it relieves you from thinking that you carry on your shoulders the weight of the marriage and its health. We love, relate to our spouse, and remain faithful to Christ in our marriage by His grace (2 Cor. 9:8).

 

6. It provides the resolve to pursue peace and work things out in your marriage, rather than pursuing divorce, since you vowed to do so to your spouse, to witnesses who were present at your wedding, and most importantly, before God (Gen. 2:24; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 19:3-9).

 

7. It nudges you to think more deeply about all relationships, since all godly relationships are covenantal in nature and so we should also commit to our children to remain faithful in our marriage since it also benefits them by your carrying out to them commitments in your marriage you should have to them (John 13:34-35; Galatians 5:6; 6:1-2, 10; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; Hebrews 3:12-14). 

 

So, by Christ’s grace, remain faithful to the covenant of marriage and enjoy the outcomes! 

 

Joyously Keeping Covenant With You As Your Joyful Pastor,

 

Tom