Category: Oneness

The Enemy

One key to being effective as a firefighter is knowing the enemy….fire. How it starts, behaves, progresses, travels, etc. How chemicals react with it, and especially what extinguishing agents are most effective in fighting fires.

One example of knowing the enemy of fire is magnesium fires. Firefighters could face this type fire with vehicles, tractor trailers and storage in buildings. If firefighters apply water on a magnesium fire the results will be violent and the fire will not go out.

There are many enemies of marriage, but the biggest is the devil. We need our eyes wide open and we need to know this enemy of our marriage.

  • 1 Peter 5:8 says, “be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
  • John 8:44 describes satan as “a liar”.
  • 2 Corinthians 11:4 warns us that he, “disguises himself as an angel of light”.
  • John 10:10 uses the words, “steal, kill, destroy” describing the devil.

The verse in 1 Peter 5 describes the devil as a lion. Lions typically hunt when it is dark in dense cover so their prey can’t see the attack coming. The prey that typically get devoured by lions are alone. The lion’s charge is generally launched directly at the prey and it rarely alters the path of attack. It is also worth noting that the lion’s heart and lungs are small so they do not have the ability to sustain a long chase to catch their prey.

So what do we do? I offer three actionable items for you to consider in guarding your marriage from the devil’s attacks.

  • Stay alert and aware. Remember how verse 8 in 1 Peter 5 started, “be sober-minded; be watchful…”
  • Seek God through daily prayer, quiet time and Bible study. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
  • Intertwine you, your spouse, and God in your marriage relationship. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broke.”

QUESTIONS

Q: What are some ways you can “stay alert” for the devil’s attacks?

Q: How can you help and encourage seeking God in your marriage?

CALL TO ACTION

Pick one of the actionable items or one your answers to the questions and discuss how you implement that with your spouse.

The Love Tree

It seems appropriate to discuss the love tree on the week of Valentine’s day. I had the pleasure of visiting St. Augustine, Florida. While I and my bride were there we enjoyed some great food at area restaurants, chilled on the beach and went on a carriage ride with a great tour guide. During our carriage ride we learned about the love tree that grows in St. Augustine. The guide told us there were only seven of these trees in St. Augustine.

From a plant perspective, the seed of a palm tree falls into a crack or hole in a crooked oak tree. It is damp enough in St. Augustine for the palm tree to soak up moisture from the oak tree’s bark, sprouts, and grow. The palm tree eventually sends down shallow roots that don’t interfere with the deep roots of the oak, leaving two different trees growing in the same space.

I prefer the local legend that one person planted the oak and the other the palm tree. They fell in love, and as their love grew the trees fused into one.

A Love Tree we saw on our trip.

The love tree is a great image that makes me think about marriage and the two people in love becoming one. I think that only truly happens over time with God’s help. Like the trees, we are two different people living in the same space, called home. Some factors on oneness to consider include:

  • Prayer
  • Invest Time Together
  • Spending Time Apart
  • Good Communications
  • Affection

QUESTIONS

Q: Do you pray for and with your spouse?

Q: When was the last time just you and your spouse did something fun together you both enjoy?

Q: Do you have girl friends for wives or guy friends for husbands with similar values that you spend time with?

Q: Do you communicate clearly and regularly? Are you an active listener?

Q: When was the last time you held hands or hugged your spouse, “just because you love them”?

A CALL TO ACTION

Reflect on the five oneness factors mentioned and pick one to address. Do something you have not been doing to nurture your growth as husband and wife. Go fan that fire!