Trading Places with Your Spouse
Honor Marriage – Part 1

Scripture Reading:  Hebrews 13:1-6

Key Verse:  Hebrews 13:4a

    Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure

This week we will be focusing on our marriages.  For most of us the most challenging place to practice empathy will be in our marriages.  But God’s Word reminds us that it is the first place we must start; we must learn to “trade places” with our spouse.

            Your spouse was raised much differently than you.  According to whether they are male or female, they were treated differently by parents and siblings.  Girls are allowed to show their emotions; boys have been told since they were toddlers to “buck up and be a big boy.”  In other words, males learn early on not to show too much emotion or they will be considered sissies.  All this to say, if we are going to get along in our marriages, we are going to need some empathy.  We must be willing to try to get inside the mind and emotions of our spouse.  We will never do that perfectly, but if we try, it will improve things greatly.

            Our scripture for today tells us to honor marriage.  Our culture, by and large, has stopped honoring this institution God created.  If you are a Christ follower, you want to obey God’s Word no matter the degree of difficulty.  The vast majority of us will struggle to one degree or another in making our marriage what it ought to be.  The first thing that is needed is a deep determination to honor your marriage.  This will lead you to practicing empathy as Christ exampled it with each of us!

Father, I present my life to you as a living sacrifice.  I will follow you and obey you even when it is difficult.  Grant me strength.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.