Psalm 16:1-2

My Shepherd drew me into His green Pastures to Romans 5, and verse eight arrested my attention:

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Christ ordained marriage as a reflection of His devotion to His bride (Ephesians 5:23-25):

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Ephesians 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.

In the resurrection, we will be “as the angels of God in heaven,” which “neither marry nor are given in marriage” (Matthew 22:30). Our marriage to Christ is not carnal in nature, but the union between the Church and Christ could not be more perfect. In fact, it is marriage that is likened to the future union between Christ and the Church, not the other way around. Nevertheless, on earth, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 3:4).

Satan hates marriage and does all in his power to destroy it. In fact, the Spirit revealed through Paul that seducing spirits (devils) want to destroy the natural, divinely ordained means by which the two strongest appetites of man are to be nourished: marriage and meats.

1Timothy 4:1 ¶ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

1Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1Timothy 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Along the still waters, as I reflected on these things, I remembered that it is Valentine’s Day. I look forward to spending time with “my Dove” after I’ve completed my Saturday-morning obligations.

Roman Emperor Claudius II banned marriages for young men, believing it would make them better soldiers. It’s hard to fathom the depth of ignorance in men whose minds are captured by Satan’s devilish notions. What does any man fight for more fiercely than to protect his love? But devils do make fools of men.

One cleric, named Valentine, secretly performed Christian marriages for young lovers. He was found out, arrested, and sentenced to death. While awaiting the execution of his sentence, he healed a jailer’s blind daughter. On the day of his execution, he sent a farewell poem to the young lady and signed it, “From Your Valentine.”

The story is likely an embellishment of a true history, and several versions have developed over the centuries. It is generally accepted that Valentine was executed on February 14, AD 269.*

I think Satan has effectively trained society today to think marriage is about power and that in the Christian marriage, it is the woman who is called upon to make the greatest sacrifice in the relationship. But the truth is, while she is called upon to love her husband with reverence, special deference, and obedience as he leads, as the Church submits to Christ, it is the husband who is required to love the wife like Christ loved the Church, and He commended His love to us, dying on our behalf, and making this supreme sacrifice without regard to our worthiness: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Selfish husbands and stubborn wives destroy marriages.

In the valley, I knelt in the shadow of the Cross upon which my Lord died for me, and I heard Him speak His daily call: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The best way for me to be the best husband to my wife that I can be is to be the best desiciple to my Lord that I can be. That begins with denying myself and taking up my cross to follow Him. And this vow and act of fidelity to Christ must be renewed every day!

Christ died for marriage. Selah!

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed us into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

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[*Although in AD 496, a Pope officially declared February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day, honoring this faithful preacher’s martyrdom, the official separation between believers over the issue of Baptism, and the absorption of the followers of Jezebel of Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-24) into the “Church of Rome” forming the Roman Catholic Church did not occur for another 200+ years. So the “cleric” who stood up to the Roman Emperor was not “Roman Catholic.” That organization followed the same spirit the Roman Emperor did, and on the notion that Priests must take a vow of celibacy to serve the Roman Church for reasons similar to those used by the evil Roman Emperor Claudius II to justify banning marriage for the young soldiers in his army.]