Keep In Step With The King - Jewell Utt
Marriage is a gift from God. A model of the relationship between Christ and His church. But the church today has many flaws, stressed over carpet, music or poor leadership, it’s hardly a perfect union. Yet Christ is perfect and He is in all things. Our part is where things fall short.
When I think of love and marriage, the approaching Valentine’s Day does not come to mind. Christ does. How we must grieve Him in our inability to love well. Love keeps no record of wrongs. It doesn’t criticize, mock or gloss over sin. Love recognizes sin; against your spouse, friend, enemy, and against Christ. Lay your careless words, harmful deeds and past hurts at the foot of the cross and leave them there. We can’t ignore our inadequacies and wish for a good outcome. But we can recognize areas of weakness and prayerfully execute change.
Christ loves us through our imperfections. He is the perfect groom. He is quick to forgive, but we must ask. He is quick to heal, but we must pursue good health. He gives us the tools to succeed, but we must do the work.
Isaiah 5:4 says: “What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it?” God–as owner of the vineyard–provided, nurtured and protected the land–yet the crop failed. We are the crop. When we focus on things unimportant to God, things of the past, we fail to produce fruit today–even though He’s provided a good environment.
Marriage and church share this fault. We have communities rich in need, we have marriages starved for love. As good stewards of both we can meet the need of the day and be relevant to the community around us.
In marriage, forget the failures and keep an account of the good. Look not for justice, but seek to forgive. Don’t strive to be right, desire peace.
In the church, move past “how things have always been done,” and look for the needs of today. Reach out to the young and healthy–their need is great–nourish the sick and hurting, follow the example of Christ. He never fell into a church-made system, but was relevant to the people and needs around Him.
When we hang onto the past, whether in our relationships or in our church, we fail to move forward in a healthy manner. Follow Christ, don’t lag behind or jump ahead. Keep in step with the King.
