DIFFERENT KIND OF MARRIAGE

I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. Hosea 2: 19

            Betrothal to the God of Israel can seem frightening but it is nothing to fear.  On earth, many experience marriages characterized by unrighteousness, injustice; one void of love and compassion.  Marriage seems more like entrapment, a death sentence to the heart, and less like a beautiful representation of a union with God.

            How does a woman open her soul to a man when sinfulness rules his heart and unfairness is the daily, expected outcome?  How can a woman be intimate in an atmosphere void of godly love and mercy?  It doesn’t take long for that dear daughter of God to learn to take her heart underground and decide to interact with her husband through self-protective grids.

            If a woman has lived in a marital relationship where she has needed to protect herself, then she will not open up to God easily.  She will have to discover, little by little, that God can be trusted.  Embarking on such an intimate relationship will take courage and faith.

            He is calling out to each of us by name today.  He is asking us to recall the beautiful vows He made to us.  He is encouraging us to dare to believe that perfect love exists!  “Open up your heart to me,” He whispers.  “You won’t be disappointed.” 

             Having responded to His invitation and having tasted of this marriage, I can assure you that you won’t walk away disillusioned.  His vows are made in the context of grace because He is compassionately considerate of our fears and our failures.  He puts a robe around our shoulders, covers a lifetime of brokenness, and invites us to call His heart our home.    

You told me that perfect love casts our fear.  The closer I get to you, the more I see why there is no place for shyness.  Fear melts in Your perfection.  Amen