I find it ironic that today’s headlines are all about politicians wanting to keep their promises this year as though it’s an unusual thing to do. Isn’t it amazing how we as a culture have become so lax in keeping our commitments as followers of Jesus Christ? We can be thankful that we have a promise-Keeping Heavenly Father. He’s promised to never leave us or forsake us, to forgive us, and to deliver us from temptation and so many more. Since we’re commanded to love our spouses the same way Jesus loves us in Ephesians 5, we should be committed to keeping these promises that we made to one another as husbands and wives.
So let’s take a closer look at these three…
1. God’s promises never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13 :5). You probably made this vow on your wedding day by saying something like this, forsaking all others and remaining faithful until death do us part. We often think of this promise in the context of never geographically leaving or physically separating from our spouses. We should not abandon or desert them. But I believe there’s so much more to this promise. Unfortunately, at our marriage intensives, we see couples who live in the same house but have deserted and abandoned each other emotionally, physically and spiritually. This is not the way that God intended for us to live. Nor is it what we promised to each other.
2. God has promised to forgive us. (I John 1:9). Isn’t it great to know that there’s no sin God is not ready and willing to forgive us from? We, as His children, are to be just as forgiving of those who sinned against us. So don’t let hours of unforgiveness toward your spouse sneak into days because those days too easily morph into months, years, and even decades. God’s desire for us is to always be in a state of forgiveness and reconciliation. Make that your desire too.
3. God has promised to deliver us from temptation. (I Corinthians 10:13). So let’s not let the temptation to break these promises we made to each other be successful. Remember, greater is he who lives in you than he who is in the world.
