Instructions for Marriage Part 3

Ephesians 5:31

“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.  However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

My wedding was far from a traditional wedding.  We opted not to have attendants.  Instead, we had our father’s give a toast or speech at the reception.  This verse is one that my dad read as part of his speech.  It was an important one for us because at the time that we got married, my husband was living with his parents. 

In laws in general have a stereotype of being difficult and my in laws did not disappoint in that.  ;-)  Their son moving out and having his own wife to now care for was a challenge as they had depended on him for a lot.  While at first, it did create some challenges for my husband and I, once he explained to them that we were still there for them however this had to be his first focus, we really came together came together as one. 

As I conclude these devotions on instructions for marriage, I pray that those of you not yet married, take these instructions as you look to your future, should you be called to be married.  For those that may not be, I ask you to take these instructions to heart and use them to realize why your friend might not be able to hang with you at times or use it to understand their struggles and be an ear for them in times that they struggle.  I pray also for all of the marriages out there, that you will keep Christ as the center of your marriage.