Kingdom Marriage is Fragrant and Flourishing Reflective of the Life of Christ
Hi Friends, as followers of Jesus Christ, we endeavor to live above reproach in all areas, especially in our relationships. Please don't take this to mean that we live each day perfectly, but our hearts are sold out for Jesus, and our greatest desire is to live out of His fullness. The abundant life happens effortlessly as we rest in the finished work of Jesus, meaning we understand the reality of our position in Him and that it is the Spirit at work in us.
Oh, what refuge we enjoy daily, abiding in the glorious shelter of the Most High. I'm convinced there is no better place to be than in Christ Jesus our Lord. There is an abundance of grace in this space, and we get to live out of it. In Him, we draw from the wells of salvation and on the power of the Spirit to walk as Jesus in the here and now. It's such a blessing. It's where we flow from rest, walk in peace, and overflow in love.
As the Father loves the Son, and the Son loves us. So we love others with the same love of Christ, by the Spirit. Today, we highlight key characteristics of Kingdom relationships, specifically Kingdom Marriage. I pray you'll be Blessed♥️.
“He has kissed us with the kisses of His mouth (Song of Solomon 1:2), killing our doubts by the tightness of His embrace. His love has been sweeter than wine to our souls.” - Charles Spurgeon.
Eight Characteristics of Kingdom Marriage
Jesus is central
Displays Honor
Covenant Intimacy
Humility is essential
Sacrificial Love is foundational
Submission & Devotion is fragrant
Filled with Patience & Understanding
Faithfulness
Jesus is Central
“And though a man might prevail against him who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12.
I can't think of any other way to be in any relationship unless Christ is in it. He holds everything together (Colossians 1:17). Therefore, Kingdom Marriage has the same fragrance of love between Christ and His bride. There are several references to Christ's love throughout the Bible; it's quite stunning. Perhaps, one of the most amazing books we see His love portrayed is in Hosea.
Listen to the Lord speak to His people far off and to us, beloved.
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. “And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’ For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.”Hosea 2:14-20.
We begin here because without knowing the love of Christ, it is impossible to experience love, for God is love. It is something the children of God will continue to relish, enjoy, and linger in throughout all eternity. Let's complete chapter two in Hosea:
“And in that day I will answer, declares the Lord, I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth, and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel, and I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’; and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’” Hosea 2:21-23.
You see, dear friends, it is all a work of God. The life of the children of God is the fruit of God, Himself. He has betrothed us to Himself, and as we spend time with Him, in His presence, we live in the Light. He is the third party, quite frankly, the most crucial party in a marriage. He is how we remember to see marriage as the gift that it is. It is sharing the life and liberty we have in Christ with another under His supernatural covering.
Displays Honor
“Marriage is to be held in honor among all [that is, regarded as something of great value], and the marriage bed undefiled [by immorality or by any sexual sin]; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” Hebrews 13:4.
It is not only for those who are married, but all of us should hold the sanctity of marriage in honor. It is humanity's proper response to God's sovereign order. It's responding obediently to the love of God. One of the ways we do this is by living by the word of God and holding it (the Word) preeminent and authoritative concerning all things in life, especially relationships, and intimacy.
