Daily Devotional
Do You Prioritize Marriage?
“And He answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Matthew 19:4-6
February 23, 2023
Ponder This
Marriage is supreme above any other earthly commitment. Parents are not the supreme commitment. We’re to honor our parents, but the Bible teaches that a man is to leave father and mother and cleave unto his wife.
Children are not the prime commitment. We’re to love our children and care for our children, but we make a tragic mistake if we pour all our devotion into our children but not into our spouses; the children, sooner or later, will leave the home. Mate to mate is a higher relationship in the Bible than child to parent. That’s what God’s Word teaches.
Business life is not the supreme commitment. Many of you are in danger of sacrificing your home on the altar of your business. Many business people are expected to give supreme loyalty to their businesses. One man was told by his company that he had to transfer and go to another place. His wife thought that would be upsetting. He said, “Well she’ll just have to get used to it. If she wants to stay with me, she ought to realize that my job is important. I can always find another wife.” Do not neglect the primary earthly commitment you made.
- Are you married? How can you invest in that primary commitment?
- Is there a married couple you feel called to serve? How can you serve, love, and encourage this week?
Practice This
If you are married, make an intentional effort to invest in this primary commitment. If you are not married, ask God to put a couple on your heart that you can love and serve in a way that encourages the marriage commitment.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
