Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: Better Sex
Weekend Music links on iTunes: All to You - Lincoln Brewster, Your Grace Is Enough - Christ Tomlin, Holding Nothing Back - Tim Hughes, 'Til I See You - Hillsong
Read: Proverbs 31, Hebrews 3:12-14, Song of Solomon 4
Think: We have a saying in our house “Does my butt look too small in these pants?” And the appropriate answer is, of course, “Why, yes it does, honey!”
1 Samuel 16:7 “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Some may think if they had to do it over again, they may have made a different selection, not only because “beauty is fleeting” as Solomon reminds us. We might be newer to walking with the Lord and our priorities have changed from when we first got married. There is a Brandon Heath song that says it well: “I wish that you could see me now, I wish that I could show you how- I’m not who I was.” If we were able to see the heart first of our potential mate, we may have wound up with someone who did not appear to be qualified or even desirable. The second part of Solomon’s verse “but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” reiterates that it’s what’s in our heart that matters. The good news is that the transforming power of God Almighty can make even a disastrous combination not only functional but exciting! I have often reminded myself that if God can make an arranged marriage work, He can also make mine work.
“A woman marries a man and wants him to change but he doesn’t. A man marries a woman and doesn’t want her to change but she does.” This aphorism might be true for some, but it’s not hopeless. Outward beauty, inward beauty, revised personality, or even body shape, no matter what we have been through---in Christ, there is no such thing as hopeless. Ephesians 3:20: For He can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine because of His power working through us!
Song of Solomon reminds us that outward, physical beauty is something to appreciate. Though we are not all blessed with physical beauty, it’s worthwhile to make an effort to look good. However, remember Love covers a multitude of sins, but spandex reveals them.
Do: Believe God for making impossible-seeming troubles even in your marriage, something that He is able to work with and heal. Pray and seek His direction and do not give up! Encourage one another in your marriage and relationships with love, mercy and forgiveness.
Pray: God, I acknowledge You are able to make my marriage not only work, but flourish. Help me gain self-control in my responses to others and habits such as gluttony, indulgences, etc. Help me put you first and receive and reflect your love to my spouse. Help me to be beautiful on the inside and may I reflect You on the outside.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.
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