Romans 8:7 For the mind
that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to
God's law; indeed, it cannot.
The Psalmist writes – “….your law is my delight!” Really,
your delight?!
The world sees the commandments of God as rules, boring,
oppressive. This is our natural viewpoint. Let’s be honest about that. On any
given day, we are not usually chomping at the bit to skip along happily
following the 10 Commandments. We are in our deepest places, hostile to God. We
want to do it our way. Our way is easier, we think; it’s better, it’s more
comfortable.
We may not struggle with committing adultery, but we watch TV
shows that commend an adulterous spirit. We don’t steal, but we ache for the
beautiful things our neighbor has. We try to blend in, as church workers we’d
give our left arm to be seen as just a little bit more normal. But normal is
not Christ.
In Christ, we can submit. We can join the psalmist and marvel
at the good laws he has given us in His Word, that we know, in our deep places,
will make life so much better. The walls of hostility have come crashing down
when Christ conferred on us sonship and washed us clean in blood and water. He
daily makes us new. This is the abundant life He invites us to, that He came
for.
Submission, then, plays out in our marriages. As we submit to
one another, we submit to Christ. When we decide together to look different
from the world, to live out His commands, embracing His law as good and
purposeful and fun, this is the Spirit empowered marriage.
You are a Spirit empowered marriage, a Spirit empowered
family. This alone looks different in a hostile world. This is your message of
Him to the world. More powerful than any sermon you could give, or any program
you can create- Christ’s Law and Gospel in your home, in your marriage. It’s a
beautiful thing.