Friday, February 07, 2014

Honoring Marriage

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure…   Hebrews 13:4

What a month we have in store for us at PCC! As we venture through the Proverbs, we are going to pause and tool up our marriages. In Hebrews 13:4, we are commanded to honor marriage.  What comes to your mind when you think of living out this verse?

The word for honor is more commonly translated precious in the rest of the New Testament.
  • It's the word used in 1 Corinthians 3:12 where Paul speaks of "gold, silver and precious stone."
  • It's used in 1 Peter 1:19 in reference to the "precious blood" of Jesus.
  • It's used in 2 Peter 1:4 to refer to the "precious and very great promises" of God.
You begin to see that God is imploring us (not suggesting): Let marriage always be thought of as precious. Let it be treasured like gold and silver and rare jewels. Let it be revered and respected like the noblest, most virtuous person or sight you have ever known.

I distinctly remember visiting Manhattan in 2003.  While I enjoyed many aspects of that short trip, paramount to my memory was the visit to Ellis Island.  I grew up hearing about this island as the landing spot for both my grandfathers as they came to America. As I walked the halls on the tour and spent time researching files and pulling up the very ship manifests with both of my grandfather’s names and signatures on them, I experienced a nostalgia and sense of identity that I hadn’t ever had before. 

I never knew my grandfathers, so to sit and ponder their brave treks to America, on the very soil and in the very halls they walked, with a dream to create a better life, a dream that I am living in…it was a precious, hallowed experience.

A group of us will experience something similar, but in a whole different realm as we venture through Israel and literally walk in the dust of the Rabbi Jesus!

PCC, Hebrews 13 commands us that when it comes to marriage, we be gripped by emotions, convictions and actions that reflect a tremendous respect and sanctity.

These coming weeks are not meant to produce guilt or shame, but to encourage all of us  and to equip us to grow our marriages towards oneness and intimacy.  We are set to offer both practical tools and practical teaching. 

I am previewing this so we will all pray.  We want to be a community where everybody honors and encourages the covenant of marriage. That quest is not easy and faces tremendous challenges in today’s culture. It all starts this weekend with our resident marriage professor Brian Rhen teaching us all.  I am looking forward to it, and need the encouragement personally.

I love being your pastor!