Magnitude of Marriages - even for singles

The Magnitude of Marriage - even for singles.

Marriage matters, shown by the fact it brings to the surface a huge array of feelings and emotions.  I am conscious of that. 

I am also conscious that grappling with God’s vision for marriage as an apparatus to display himself through brings the healing or clarity or guidance our context will need – married, single, bereaved, divorced, content, uncertain.  God makes marriage as a mechanism to bring into our lives a beautiful thing – his splendour and truth.  Marriage may have failed you.  Marriage may be marvellous for you.  Marriage may be hard for you.  Allow its ultimate purpose to cascade through the veins of your life.  Marriage was made by God to show himself through.  It is designed as a divine display-case. 

Let me show you that from the Bible.

Marriage is mostly about showing us God

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them… That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.  (Genesis 1:27 and 2:24)

For your Maker is your husband – the Lord Almighty is his name…As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you, as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 54:5 and 62:5)

Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.  (Ezekiel 16:8)

The Lord said to me, ‘Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods…’ (Hosea 3:1)

Marriage is intensely about showing us Jesus

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure bride to him.  (1 Corinthians 11:2)

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 5:31-32)

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7 and 21:9)

Marriage and you

How does realising marriage is mostly about showing what God is like effect your marriage? 

How does it affect your understanding of marriage? 

What about how you support marriages around you? 

How does it refine your understanding of who God is?