Daily Encouragement Net Header (Winter sunset in Lancaster County)
www.dailyencouragement.net
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
Home  About Us  Archives  Free email subscription  Listen to this message Listen to this message  Donate to this ministry

Wednesday, January 25, 2006
"Holy Marriage"

"But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband" (1 Corinthians 7:2).

Photo of Wayne and YvetteThis last weekend we had a wedding in New England. I shared Yvette's remarkable redemption story in the last message I wrote.*1  We had a great weekend and also attended services in the church we formerly pastored on Sunday and saw many of our dear friends and met many new people as well.

The wedding service was very special. In the last several years Yvette and Wayne were both associated with a dynamic ministry called Teen Challenge. Family, friends from church, and a large contingent of friends from Teen Challenge made up the witnesses to the wedding ceremony.

Teen Challenge was originally so named due to it being an outreach to teens back when it was founded in the late fifties by David Wilkerson.  But soon after the ministry started it began to reach out to people of all ages who were trapped in various addictions.

Photo of AlvinThe message remains "Jesus is able to save and deliver" and through the years scores of men and women all over the world have experienced miraculous deliverance. I served on the board for the New England Teen Challenge and have many friends who went through the program going back all the way to my college days. Alvin, who played the piano at the ceremony is pictured.

The Teen Challenge folks sure made up an interesting group at the wedding. They tend to be socially less restrained (in a good sense in my view) than many. Not impolite, just very expressive. As the service progressed one of the groomsmen was very concerned that I had forgotten the "You may now kiss the bride" part and gestured to remind me. I whispered (but inevitably loud enough for all to hear since I was miked), that it was coming up.

Toward the end of the ceremony it seemed that practically everyone thought I would miss it and there was an anticipatory rumble throughout the congregation and even from Wayne and Yvette. At the appropriate time I said, "Wayne, you may finally kiss your bride."  As I introduced the new Mr. and Mrs. the congregation erupted into earnest applause as the couple departed down the aisle.

The kiss was anticipated in large part due to a commitment that Wayne and Yvette had made during their dating period. They knew the effects of immorality and had made a commitment to refrain from physical intimacy, including kissing, until their wedding kiss.

The Scripture's forthright statement in the daily text is just as needed today as 2000 years ago, perhaps even more.  "But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband" (1 Corinthians 7:2). *2

Indeed there is so much immorality in our world (unless we merely redefine immorality as many are doing).  But using God's standards as expressed in the Holy Scripture we clearly see that there is so much immorality.  Thus "each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband."  This is a reinforcement of the Biblical, God-ordained design for marriage, the uniting of one man and one woman in a covenant commitment for a lifetime.  Today let us again remember that, "Marriage should be honored by all."


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's prayer:  Jesus, how grateful I am for the union of a man and a woman in holy marriage.  You designed the family unit to work together, play together and support one another as they go through the difficulties of life.  Help me to be absolutely committed to my marriage partner and to the family You have chosen for me.  May I bring vitality and blessing to my family this day.  In Your name I pray.  Amen.

Personal note: We really did have a great weekend but of course are glad to be home.  On Monday Ester had an appointment at Boston Children's Hospital, where she was cared for while we lived in New England.  The appointment was at 8:30, especially accommodating to us due to the travel. However on Monday they had a snow storm in the Boston area and although we left the church apartment at 6:45 didn't get to the hospital till after 9:00. Even without a storm Rts 24, 128 and 93 are always quite a contrast to my normal commutes here in Lancaster County!  We left the hospital after 5 on Monday afternoon and traveled all the way back home (400 miles), arriving early Tuesday morning.

In our associations we came across some other great life stories I will be sharing the next several weeks in this series. I am thrilled to see the Lord working in lives over the long haul.

Brooksyne's note: A number of readers have expressed interest in Ester's ongoing heart difficulties so I'll bring you a brief up-to-date report from our appointment in Boston.  Due to Ester's ongoing struggles with atrial flutter she was seen by an electrophysiologist who was to recommend whether surgery to correct the problem would be in her best interest.  We met with Dr. Walsh who has performed more of these ablations on patients like Ester than any other doctor in the world.  He has the best record for success and is training other doctors with the procedure he uses.  But, bottom line, he felt that due to Ester's previous 5 heart operations, scar tissue would be a real challenge and increase her chance for not having a successful ablation.  Depending on the frequency and severity of her future episodes with atrial flutter this could change his decision in the future.  The other issue is her pacemaker that will need to be replaced within the year.  He has recommended that she have a different kind of pacemaker that will have two leads (tachycardia) and would also be able to respond to atrial flutter and bring her back into proper pacing.  Ester was happy to see her cardiologist again after five years.  Boston Children's is an excellent hospital that served us very well while we lived in Taunton, MA.  Again, we are thankful for your genuine interest and ongoing prayers on her behalf.

*1 Yvette's story: "No Hopeless Cause"

*2 1 Corinthians 7 does also teach that some have the gift of celibacy.

Final note: The last wedding service I performed in Massachusetts was in 2000 prior to our move to Pennsylvania. At that time the marriage license designated the couple with the traditional titles bride and groom. How do you suppose Massachusetts now designates the couple on the state issued marriage license?
Your answer

 

Sign up for the free daily email encouragement at www.dailyencouragement.net

Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.


Please pass this webpage on:   


Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

© Copyright 2006 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552

"Living today anchored in God's solid foundation"