02/13/2020
You say you are a person of faith, but what does that mean? As it concerns our life there are two ways that we can approach our walk of faith; the first is by making our faith a part of our life, and the second is by making our life a part of our faith. We should each ask ourselves the question... “Which way do I order my life?” On the surface we might think it sounds like an academic exercise, but in the eyes of God it is much more than that.
“"Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.”
Habakkuk 2:4 ESV
Marriages fail every day. There is no shortage of cases moving through the court systems, and this is a sad state of affairs. In most of these cases the problem boils down to how these individuals approached their union in the context of their life. When a couple days “I Do!” And consummate their marriage, and life together, we read in scripture that something amazing happens... they cease being two, and become one flesh.
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
Genesis 2:24 ESV
Yet if they don’t alter their way of thinking to match what has transpired physically, then their life together is unbalanced, and the possibility of marital trouble is just beneath the surface. One, or both, of them might become jealous of the other, one may think that they are not getting enough out of the relationship, distrust erupts, inequality of duties, unfaithfulness, and unrest in a million different ways. This is what happens when a married couple does not live their lives in love, but instead looks for love in their life... they need to become one in love. Each must be willing to strip off the garments of self, and place the needs of the other before their own. They shouldn’t be ashamed to bare themselves in their life. Marriage should cease to be a part of the life we envision for ourselves and become the whole of our new and larger life. In this way we cease to live a life as two married individuals who now have the license to sleep with one another, and become not only one flesh, but one heart... one life.
“And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
Genesis 2:25 ESV
When I was at a party with my young kids there was a man who made incredible things out of balloons. He would blow them up. And twist them into swords, animals, boats, hats, and various other items to intertwined the children, but there was one trick that I really liked. He would take one balloon and somehow blow it up inside another. When completed, there was one large balloon with another one amazingly inside it, but then he would do the trick again and when finished there were two different colored balloons inside the larger one. This is what marriage should be, and it is most certainly what our faith should be. Although we never cease to be a person, for every intent and purpose we are absorbed and made one within our marriage, and within our faith. Listen to Jesus...
“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."”
John 14:20-21 ESV
So, there are a couple of questions here... who, or what, is the big balloon as we approach life? Jesus tells us it is God. The second question is a mystery; one that is just like the one that surrounds a married couple when they become one flesh. Jesus tells us that we are in Him, and He is in us. The image he portrays here is mysterious indeed... our spirit, and faith, makes us one.
Think on this a while, and then ask yourself if you are living out your faith in light of this reality. Ask yourself “Is my faith a part of our life, or is my life a part of our faith?” Perhaps you would want to simplify this a bit by asking the same question in a different way... “Am I the big ballon, or the little balloon inside?”
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the relationship of oneness I have with your Son Jesus, and for being brought through Him into that same relationship with you. Thank you Holy Father for teaching me what it means to place you above all things, and for pouring your many blessings into me as I do. You are not a piece of my life Lord... no, in my faith I have become a portion unto you, and my faith in you surrounds me, and is all that I am. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who is above all gods, and everything I call life. You are awe inspiring, and a mystery to me Father, and there is nothing that comes before you. I yield myself to you in body, mind, soul, and with all my strength I Love, and worship you. Great are you in mercy and grace as I seek out my salvation, and a place with Jesus Christ in your presence; in you. Hear my prayers Father, and find pleasure in me. Lead me by your Holy Spirit to a life in which everything in it looks to you and says “Master!” Lead me to see you in everything around me, and also in myself. Hear my worship Lord, and know that you are all to me... my flesh, my heart, and my soul are yours now, and forevermore. My life is made complete in you.
“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.”
Psalms 16:8-9 ESV
Rich Forbes