November 10, 2008

 A Kingdom Marriage!

This term kingdom marriage has been stuck in my head and in my spirit for a few years. A kingdom marriage. A kingdom marriage. A marriage established by God.

Every marriage cannot grab this claim to fame. A marriage where God has united two people as friends, in love, purposed to move His kingdom agenda forward. God is raising a new type of marriage, one that is not based on touchy feely, tee hee, “I love you, I love you too” comments.

Kingdom marriages have a kingdom purpose and a kingdom agenda. Marriages that have gone through some tough times and come out on the other side stronger, better, more connected and determined than ever before. Marriages that have grown through adversity and have a story to tell. Marriages that exemplify true agape love. Marriages like my friends Shelley and Larry Reichenbach, what they went through was not just for them, it was for us.

Their testimony teaches us that even when you go through it is possible for restoration to take place in our relationships and specifically in their marriage. Why would God allow it? To teach us love, to teach us forgiveness, to show a dying world that He is still able and that there is truth in the word that says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, even accept a man back into my life that left me for someone else.

Marriages like Michelle and Barack Obama, as she stood by him through the presidential campaign and election, at his side working diligently with him to secure his election. To hear him during his acceptance speech acknowledge her as his best friend for over 16 years and to see the love they have for each other.

A kingdom marriage is one where the parties are not exactly alike, but they compliment each other. They are strong in the others weakness. They are connected in love and for a purpose. They fit. In a kingdom marriage the desire is to see the best, God’s best for your partner. In a kingdom marriage there are struggles, these are not perfect marriages, they learn how to work through.

Pastor Deron Robinson, the pastor of Word of Abundant Life Church of Phoenix, AZ used the examples of two marriages that I identified as kingdom marriages. They were the marriage of Jacob and Leah and the marriage of Hosea and Gomer. Neither of these women was the first choice of their husband, but from each of their marriages we can learn a powerful lesson. Leah taught us to stand, to persevere and to do what you know to do even when it is difficult or uncomfortable. She knew he desired to be somewhere else, with someone else, but when you read the story, you see that his choice was Rachel. He loved Rachel. Rachel had difficulty becoming pregnant and died along the way.

Many of the relationships that we have chosen for ourselves have done the same thing. They did not have what it took to stand the test of time, to move us into our purpose and they died. Some of them ended so badly that a part of us died with them.

While Rachel was Jacob’s choice, her father substituted Leah in her place. Our father, our heavenly father has made some choices for us as well. He has decided who our mates should be and who they should not be. It is up to us to wait on Him to deliver the person of His choosing to us, realizing that He knows what is best for us and He knows why. The choice He makes is the one that will propel us into our purpose, our choice may just put that thing on delay or have the ability to cancel it out altogether if we don’t accept His will. When Jacob died he gave instructions to his sons to bury him next to Leah.

I had never seen that before. I had always felt sorry for Leah and cried over the rejection that she experienced until now. Leah’s marriage to Jacob had a purpose. Your marriage like Leah’s may be one that is full of pain, rejection, misunderstanding or lack of love or attention, but if you know God purposed you to be there, you know that is the husband or wife that God has for you and that you did not choose them for yourself hold on and let God work it out for you. In the end whatever hindrance, whether it be another relationship, lack of love, whatever it is God will work it out and it will die, it will just end or disappear.

Remember that will only happen if this is the relationship God purposed, because the bible is clear, what He purposed cannot be stopped. Don’t get in the way, don’t manipulate the situation, don’t use your body to try to entice or draw the person to you, let God work it out while you pray. You stand and pray, trusting God all the way.

O thers may tell you to get out, to leave the situation alone, they will tell you what they would not put up with, but this is the purpose God has for you, so listen to God and do what He tells you to do. It will not be easy, but you can do it through His strength, grace and mercy. Remember that the lessons learned in a kingdom marriage are not just for you they are part of the testimony God will use to help others as they go through.

Remember that Kingdom marriages are not about us, they are about fulfilling God’s purpose in the kingdom. It may not look like you think it ought to look and it may not be your first choice, but when we recognize that God knows best we will recognize along the way that God knew what we needed and when we needed it. As one of my friends often says her husband is not what she dreamed, he is beyond her imagination. If you want a kingdom marriage you will have to trust God and watch it unfold.

 Weekly Scripture:

Luke 1:37:
37 For nothing is impossible with God.[a]”

New Beginnings 2008 Workout Focus
10,000/steps per day or 70,000/steps per week Walking Program*

This is the fitness opportunity that New Beginnings is promoting for 2008. It is simple and easy and almost everyone can participate at whatever level of fitness they are at. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes, comfortable clothing, a pedometer, and you're all set.
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