Is God at the Center of Your Marriage? - Crosswalk PLUS Marriage Devotional

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Psalm 127:1

In 1 Kings 3, we see King Solomon asking God for wisdom to know how to build the temple of the Lord. Because he was so wise to ask God for the details of how to build this temple, God granted his request. In Psalm 127:1, we see that depending on God for the details of building a house is vital for it to be strong enough to fulfill its purpose and last for the long haul. In fact, this verse is seen as a warning!

I believe this warning can be applied to challenging us in how we build our marriage.

If we were building a literal building, we would consult and hire an expert, wouldn't we? Then, the work would begin. The foundation would be carefully laid, they would construct the frame, and they would add a roof. Then plumbing, electrical, and HVAC contractors would come in and do their work. At this point, the building process might stop for a few days so there could be an inspection conducted to make sure things were being done the right way. After a short break, insulation would be blown in, drywall and sheetrock would be hung, and walls would be primed. Then there would probably be another inspection.

If you’ve ever had a house built, you know that taking time away from the actual building of the house so an inspection can be conducted can be frustrating because sometimes it takes longer than you’d like. You are eager to see the finished product! But this is a vital part of the process because it is important that everything is done legally and is up to code. It's important to know that the work being done is being done correctly!

Finally, the exterior siding is finished, the interior details are done, the driveways and patios are made, the flooring and countertops are installed, and final details are completed. Then, of course, a final inspection is conducted. 

Although we aren’t necessarily doing the literal construction of a building, we are daily building our lives and marriages on something; we need to pay attention to every small detail of how we are building our marriage in the same way we would if building a house. We can put a lot of time and effort into building, but if the foundation is weak, the building won’t stand. This is true of marriage as well. If we are not building our marriage on the foundation of the gospel and the truth of God’s Word, learning daily how God wants us to live and centering all that we do around those truths, then we will not experience what God intended us to in our marriage. Then, it cannot be used to point others to Him. We need to stop on a regular basis and have an inspection, pausing to take time to see how the building of our marriage is going.

Step by step, we need to consult the expert, find out what adjustments need to be made, and not move on until we are told it is okay to do so. God our Father, and the inventor of marriage, wants our marriages to have strong and solid foundations and to be built in a way that will stand tall and strong for the purpose of proclaiming His goodness and glory.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Daniel Mccullough

Prayer:

Father, thank you for sending your Son to sacrifice his life for our sins so that we can be forgiven and have hope that we will spend eternity with You. Help me learn how to build a marriage that is based on Your great example of forgiveness as its foundation, and to revolve all that we do around You. Help me fully accept and love my spouse as I have been fully accepted and loved by You.

Challenge Question:

Take some time to inspect the building that is taking place in your marriage. Is it being built on that which will be strong and last for the long haul? Are you one who will accept, love, and forgive your spouse in the same way that God has accepted, loved, and forgiven you? When others encounter you and your spouse, are they regularly being pointed to the gospel as they observe you love each other as Christ has loved you?

Photo credit: Getty/Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn

Gina Smith is a writer and author. She has been married for 35 years to Brian, a college professor and athletic trainer. For 25+ years, she and her husband served on a Christian college campus as the on-campus parents, where Brian was a professor and dean of students. They reside right outside of Washington, DC, and are the parents of two grown children, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law, and one granddaughter. She recently authored her first traditionally published book, Everyday Prayers for Joy, which is available everywhere books are sold. You can find Gina at the following: Website: ginalsmith.com, Instagram, and at Million Praying Moms, where she is a writer.

We hope you and your spouse are challenged and encouraged by today's devotional! For more of this premium marriage devotional, visit here.