THE GIFT (Part 2)

Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV): Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.

You see when God creates a person, it is from a plan that He has developed before He began forming them in the womb, He not only knows what He is going to make, He actually knows the person as though they have already been made.

Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP): For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Now ladies back in the day, for those who remembers the barbie dolls from the 70's? Who do you remember being the best mate for her. Yes, you know it, it was the Ken doll, they were the perfect match. So just think, since God created us, wouldn't He know who would be good for us? Just like we know that Barbie & Ken are a match in the world of toys.

So with that being said, if we allowed God to help us find our mate, wouldn't that be a great gift from God, to have someone that God has picked especially for you? A lot of times we try to pick people on our own, but when we do so, without asking God first, we are doing it without His help. When we pick a person for the wrong reason's based upon what we see: the person has a nice body; what we feel: because they have a nice body, lust come's into play, and most people want what they see. Don't get me wrong, yes, we want our mate to look good, but looks can be deceiving.

Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV): Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.

So both houses looked good, but for one house, looks was all that it had going for it. Everything in that house was cheap, cheap wood, cheap walls, worn out pipes were used to build, but the outside looked good. So over a long period of time, both houses looked good, but only one would last, because of the quality of materials it was built with.

The question is, how many people look at relationships from the world's point of view, instead of God's point of view? Everything that God created was good, but man corrupted it from God's original intent. Because God cannot go back on His word, He had to gave us authority over the earth to dominate it.

Genesis 1:27-28: So god created human beings, making them to be like Himself. He creted them male and female, blessed them, and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals

So if you are in a relationship, or marriage; which house is your relationship built on? The rock or the sand? Most importantly, do you view your partner or spouse as a gift from God? What is a gift from God? It is knowing that God has blessed you with someone who is made just for you, and God knows what you both need, want, and like in each other, because he created you both, and what He created is good. With that being said, that doesn't mean that your relationship is doomed to fail because it did not start with God. You or both you and your spouse/partner can submit yourselves and your relationship to God and obey His instructions and turn your relationship into something beautiful and of God.

For those who are married, how many make their wedding vows before God and mean them? "For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, promise to love and cherish. NOTE: (this is not suggesting any one remain in a sexually, physically, mentally or emotionally abusive relationship; you should get help). Everyone is all for, better, richer, in health; but what about out of health, for worse, for poorer, sickness? Why do so many give up doing this part?

You see that is the thing about marriage, you are supposed to be in it for the long haul, but how can you make it through the long haul, if you pull the truck (marriage) over onto the side of the road and get out, because you no longer like the conditions that you are driving in. If we rely on ourselves, then it's only what we make out of it, without help from God. If you rely on yourselves when it gets bad, then there is a chance that it will not last, but with God nothing is impossible.

Luke 1:37 (ESV): For nothing will be impossible with God.

Philippians 4:13 (ESV): I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Luke 18:27 (ESV): But he said, "what is impossible with man is possible with God.

Relationships and marriage are about becoming one with each other, learning to grow with each other, over time. As I have said before, there is much work that is needed in order for your relationship to run smoothly, call it maintenance.

If something is running well, and is good, but over time requires maintenance, do you get rid of it just because it is old, or out of date because their are better looking models out? Ask yourself that same question for marriage. Do you give up the fight when hard times come? When one spouse get's sick? When they start to get over weight? When a job is lost? When the grass looks greener on the other side? When things are taking a long time to get better?

Just like the strong house that was built on the rock, overtime it would need maintenance. If you truly value your gift from God, then when the negative part of the vows happen, you will not cheat, leave, or give up because first you would be giving up on God, and on your spouse. Think about it like this, the same way that an older model car can be fixed up; painted and work done to it, and it looks just as good as a new car, but it now has more value. This is due to the length of time that it has been around, there are not many of its kind, and it was made well to begin with, and other people know its value and want it. You don't have to figure out how the old car works or new features, you don't have to wait and see if something is going to go wrong with it, etc., you know this car. It's the same with your spouse, the person who has had your back for years. Pray and trust God to fix whatever is broken in your marriage. God loves you and He will not say no, but yes, and amen!