I DO! – Faithful – June 3rd

I DO
June 3, 2021

Faithful

Ephesians 5:21-33, ‘Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife in the way Christ does to His church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as He exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.
‘Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything He does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage.
‘No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of His body. And this is why a man leaves his father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become “one flesh”. This is a huge mystery, and I don’t pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church, His bride. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.’ (MSG)

Yesterday I shared with you a sad story of the demise of my first ‘I Do’ and our broken story that did not at the time have a happy ending. I shared about the unfaithfulness of both of us toward one another and how neither one of us protected what God gave us to protect, each other nor our children. Today I want to share a very powerful story of the opposite, of faithfulness.

My parents today are sharing their 65th Wedding Anniversary! 65 years married to the same person! Many people don’t even live to be 65 years old, and yet my mom and dad are married to each other for 65 years! That’s incredible! But it hasn’t always been marital bliss. Their ‘I Do’ story has had many ups and downs, mountains and valleys. I remember several times as a kid wondering if they were going to become like many of my friend’s parents and become divorced. I have contemplated what parent I would live with and would I have two sets of everything and would I forget whose house I was to go to on what day. Seemed overwhelming. My parents worked through their difficulties and disagreements and honored the oath they gave one another.

That was before. Then they met Jesus. It was a non-issue after that. I am that kid. That kid that got to witness the before and after. My parents weren’t addicts or indecent people or messed up; they weren’t any of that. But they were broken and self-centered and trying to make sense out of life. Then they were introduced to Jesus and everything changed. He became their everything, and their focus and attentions and choices changed; their very expression of life transformed. It was annoying actually for a long time because they were so blessed and highly favored, so secure in heavenly places, that I didn’t think they could see me in all my worldly waste, my tragic earthly existence. God sure knew what He was doing though. My parents have helped Jesus rescue me. They stooped into my pit and grabbed my hand and pulled, and when they couldn’t lift me, they climbed in with me and hoisted me out. They have cried with me and encouraged me and they have done business with God on my behalf.

They also have given their lives to minister to those who are incarcerated in prison as well as paroling to the outside and getting off to a good start and a new beginning. There are many people who will be in heaven someday because of my parent’s desire to sharing Jesus with those needing hope and help. Their story is one of faithfulness, faithfulness to one another but especially faithfulness to their God. He is evident in their every moment and He is the essence of their very lives. They have yielded to Him, and they have yielded to one another, and their expression of ‘I Do’ will leave behind an incredible legacy for this family to follow in the footsteps of. It hasn’t always been easy, but as with the Lord, we weren’t promised ease; we were vowed it would be worth it.

My parents are on the backside of life now; the images are becoming smaller in the rear-view mirror every season. But I know that their love for one another, the example of their love for Jesus and their desire that anyone they meet know the remarkable grace of God’s forgiveness, is an inspiration and example to me of how I want to finish this life also. I know their ‘I Do’ will be rewarded by the words of their Father someday soon, ‘Well done, My good and faithful servants, well done!’

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, DAD & MOM, DICK & CAROL GOTT!! WE ALL LOVE YOU!

What a promise ‘I Do’ is! Whether we are committing to a person
or simply being intentional in life, our word should be a cherished commodity.
This month, journey with me in ‘I Do’ moments which are an oath, a vow, a pact,
a pledge, an honorarium.