Week 23 Devotions

June 4 - - The apostle Paul writes in the New Testament, “and you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her.....As the Scriptures say, ‘A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.’” (Ephesians 5:25,31&32). With this passage of scripture Paul shows how sex between a husband and a wife is a holy and sacred relationship. The reason God created the sexual relationship between a man and a woman to be so physically enjoyable, was because God wanted a husband and a wife to find their greatest intimacy in that context. As we read through the Song of Solomon, we sense the passion this husband and wife have for one another. It is obvious they enjoy one another’s companionship. One can feel their excitement as they anticipate being together. That is how a marriage relationship is to work. A husband and wife should find in each other their best friend, their most trusted confidant, the one person to whom they can talk with about anything. But, that takes work. It takes a commitment of one’s mind, as well as one’s actions. It means keeping our relationship pure by not permitting our mind to think of other men or women in unholy ways (Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:1-3; Philippians 4:8&9; Matthew 5:27-30). It also means doing things with our spouses and to our spouses that demonstrate our respect and honor for them (Ephesians 5:28&29,33; I Peter 3:1-7). Unfortunately, Solomon and his wife allowed other distractions to come between them and Solomon was eventually overcome by his lust for women, sex, and pleasure. Marriage is hard work. It requires discipline. But, enjoyed in the context for which God created it, marriage gives us a small glimpse into the intimacy we can enjoy with God. June 7 - - There are some things in life we think a lot about: the weather, eating, working, and paying the bills to name a few. There are other things in life we think sometimes about: mowing the lawn, moving, and changing jobs for example. One thing we spend very little time thinking about, is death. That’s right. Death can be screaming at the top of it’s lungs and we ignore it. A close friend or family member has been diagnosed as terminally ill and we refuse to accept the prognosis. Or, that same person may be wanting to talk about their condition and we won’t visit with them about it. But, at a funeral of someone close, we find ourselves face to face with our own mortality. Solomon’s advice sometimes seems a bit crazy. “It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals” (Ecclesiastes 7:2). And how can that be? “For you are going to die, and you should think about it while there is still time.” Good point. “A wise person thinks much about death, while the fool thinks only about having a good time now” (7:4). “Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us” (7:3). The truth is, “there is a time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance” (3:4). How many of us, while attending a funeral, have found our own minds wandering and questioning what really does happen when we die? How many of us have asked ourselves if we are ready to die? “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death” (Proverbs 14:12). There is only one path that leads to life. The Bible says it is a narrow path and few are traveling upon this narrow path (Matthew 7:13&14). The majority of the world is traveling on the wide path that leads to destruction. The narrow path is one that is clearly marked for us by none other than the One who called himself, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). Take some time today to contemplate whether you are ready for death. The question is not whether our walk is a perfect walk. None of us can claim such a distinction (Ecc.7:20). But, the guide who leads us down that path is perfect, and he is committed to successfully seeing us through to the end (Philippians 1:6). Have you thought at all about death lately?