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View Your Spouse in a Very Special Way!

by Kenneth Peterman  
9/23/2008 / Marriage

Many talk about their ministry for the church and spend hours and hours with much sacrifice in accomplishing their special task for the Lord. They rightfully claim: "I am a teacher, a board member, an usher, a counselor, a deacon, etc." I wonder how many realize that our primary ministry for the Lord is in our home and not the church!

The Word of God contends that our spouse is not only our partner and mate but our primary ministry.

This is true because:

1. The one-flesh relationship establishes this unique ministry.

The intimacy of the one-flesh relationship surpasses any other interaction - whether acquaintance, friend, church member or even extended family. Marriage provides a very special union between two individuals especially on the spiritual level. Marriage partners should no longer act separately but as one. The spiritual growth (or lack of it) of one partner affects the other for good or ill. Since the one-flesh relationship in marriage is the most intimate, the ministry to our spouse should be the most intense.

Principle of ministry: The one with whom we are the most intimate should receive our most intense ministry.

2. The mutual membership in the body of Christ encourages this unique ministry.

Scripture cites many admonitions and commands to obey concerning our brothers and sisters in the Lord. If the following admonitions and/or commands are to be exercised toward our brothers and sisters in the Lord, how much more should we apply them to our spouse?

Admonitions such as:

Giving devotion and honor: Romans 12:10, "Be kindly affectioned one to another in brotherly love."

Being truthful: "Ephesians 4:25, "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another."

Submitting to one another: Ephesians 6:18, "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

Praying: Ephesians 6:18, "Praying always with all prayer . . . for all saints.

Counseling: I Thessalonians 5:11, "Wherefore comfort yourselves together. . . "

Bearing one another's burdens: Galatians 6:2, "Bear you one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Doing Good: Galatians 6:10, "Let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

Forbearing one another: Colossians 3:13, "Forbearing one another."

Forgiving one another: Colossians 3:13, "Forgiving one another."

Loving one another: I Peter 1:22, ". . . love one another with a pure heart fervently."

These admonitions are not casual take-it-or-leave-it options, but clear instructions from the Lord about the behavior of His Church. If we are commanded to minister in these ways to the members of the body of Christ in general, how much more should we minister in these ways to our spouse with whom we are not only fellow members of the body of Christ but one fesh?

Principle of ministry: The member of the body of Christ with whom we spend the most time should receive our most intense ministry.

3. The covenant relationship of the marraiage union seals this distinstive ministry toward our spouse.

Marriage is sealed with a vow! We don't make vows in any other relationship - not in jobs, careers, hobbies, friendships or business. The marriage vow is so important it is recognized by the state as a binding legal contract.

Principle of ministry: The one to whom we make our most sacred commitment should receive our most intense ministry.

Our spouse should be our primary ministry because of our one-flesh relationship, our mutual membership in the body of Christ and the covenant relationship in marriage.

View Dr. Peterman's e-book - REMAIN FAITHFUL TO YOUR SPOUSE IN A SOAP OPERA SOCIETY. Go to homepage on Faithwriters.com.Click FIND A WRITER and follow simple instructions or go to my blog: www.biblicalmatters.blogspot.com and click on the name of the book on the right margin.

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