He desires to bless those who honor Him
Published 8:34 am Monday, July 29, 2024
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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham
Dear Rev. Graham: My fiancé and I, after dating for a couple of years, are going to be married soon. We’ve completed our education and will settle into our first home together after the wedding. We hope to have a family and desperately want to be responsible parents and build a stable home. All kinds of books and podcasts are being suggested to help us, but I’m leery of much of the advice given today, and I believe that even counselors tend to make all relationships complex. Since marriage and family are ordained by God, what is the best wisdom for a young couple desiring to please the Lord? – F.M.
Dear F.M.: The family is the basic unit of society. But from the very beginning, when the first couple sinned against God, the family has been in trouble.
We’ve all seen product labels. Many of them carry these words: “For best results follow the instructions of the manufacturer.” For best results in marriage, building a strong home life, and raising children, follow the instructions of the One who performed the first wedding in the garden of Eden.
The reason the family is in critical condition today is that we have neglected the rules, the regulations – the formula for a successful home.
God is more than interested in people’s marriages, homes, and families and He desires to bless those who honor Him. He shows us the ideals and the goals for the family (see Deuteronomy 6). The home is a sacred institution. Faith in Christ is the most important principle that guides building strong homes and families.
The Bible stresses that a marriage ideally should be a picture or a reflection of Christ’s love for His people. This is a high standard. Marriage is a holy bond because it permits a man and a woman to help each other work out their spiritual destinies. After all, God declared marriage good!
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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)