“You’ve got no poker face.” Um, thank you? Should I be encouraged and take that as a compliment or be offended by the insensitivity of the comment? I’ve had many people say that to me so I know there’s possibly legit truth to it. Maybe that’s why I feel more comfortable dropping the pretenses, because I think you can read truth all over my face and countenance. I can generalize this blog post but you’d be able to read between the lines.
So I’ll just be up front about it: this post stems from thoughts and meditations due to marriage. My marriage. The greatest gift God has given me this side of earth. I’ve never met a man more passionate, more real, and more devoted to Jesus. I told a coworker once when I was 18 that I was praying and holding out for a man who was like Billy Graham. He laughed at me and said that was every Christian girl’s wish. But I knew secretly in my heart my prayer would be heard. One of the first things my mother told me after I had gotten engaged was that God had answered that specific prayer. I couldn’t have agreed with her more. Seriously. I’m sitting on the other side of the world writing this to you as I’ve followed my husband who has obediently followed the call of God.
I think the greatest thing marriage has done is open my eyes to my unbecoming selfishness. Marriage is a floodgate that opens up the reality of our depravity. Isn’t it so ironic how we can most easily, and many times willingly, hurt the person we love most? Sin at its finest.
Let me take it one step further and to the core of this post. Two sinners comprise one marriage. Disastrous! I for sure thought I married a saint! That utopian dream was a farce. My offended gasps and finger pointing at the awful sins of my husband started almost directly after the wedding.
Matthew 7:3 has never been more real to me than now that I’m married. “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”
What I wish would be more real to me is John 8:10, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
That Jesus can see the depths of our dark hearts and yet love us still the same is mind blowing. Every sin of ours is an offense against Him personally yet He does not hold a single one of them against us.
Jesus does not condemn. Pharisee of Pharisees I am if I do!
I am overcome by the thought of this! Lord, overwhelm me afresh with this everyday!
Surely the purpose of marriage is but a reflection of God himself and the love He has for His bride, the church. From one wife to another, I write this and pray with hope that God’s grace upon grace fills your soul through your journey.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
It's just Me Abby 