As we enter into the season of resurrection, it is a good time to contemplate not only on what Jesus has done for us, but also what it means for us personally. Marriage can be filled with the fruit of many things that we cause to be dead. We can become cold, bitter, and unforgiving causing our love for one another to be distant. While this type of death is not too hard for Jesus to resurrect, He is looking for us to put to death our sin so that He may help us walk completely in what He purposed on the cross.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Walk in Love
5 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Christ gave himself for us. He didn’t get forced to be crucified. In Matthew 26:53 it even states that if He wanted to, He could ask His Father and more than 12 legions of angels would be put to flight on His behalf. He chose to be an offering for our sin, healing, and deliverance. Walking in love means that we have to sacrifice our flesh. We have to surrender our will for His and evaluate what we have killed in our relationships so that He can resurrect them. We must surrender our attitudes, bitterness, unforgiveness, and all of our hurt to Him. He can’t make us whole without permission. We have to surrender ourselves to Him.
Ephesians 5:8-14
Walk in Light
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit[b] is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
When we surrender our unfruitfulness to God, we are giving Jesus permission to expose what’s dead and come in as light to drive out darkness and cause resurrection to take place. The longer we hide in the dark, the worse we will feel and the farther we become from our purpose.
1 John 1:9 NKJV
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Just as Christ forgives us, we must also forgive. We might have many reasons to be mad at our spouse, but we must also be accountable for our part. Did we respond using the fruit of the spirit? Did we allow our anger to lead us into sin? Did we hold on to offense and let it take root and sprout resentment and bitterness? Most times if we address issues quickly, then they can be resolved quickly. God is faithful to cleanse us from unrighteousness. It is the enemy that wants us to hold on to things secretly without addressing them.
So today I encourage you to ask God what have you allowed to die in your marriage. I challenge you to willingly crucify your flesh so that God may resurrect your passion and purpose for one another. Expose the enemy by allowing Jesus to come in as light. Know that God has a plan for every situation, even when it looks like the enemy is winning. Jesus finished the work of the cross so that we may also finish the work that God has started in us!
Father, we thank You for resurrection power. We thank You that You loved us enough to give Your Son for our sins. Forgive us for hiding in dark places instead of allowing Jesus to come in as light. We come to You today surrendering our flesh and asking You to crucify every work of darkness. We want to be resurrected with You and experience the full power of the cross. We want our marriage to carry the passion of the cross with full resurrection of any good fruit that has died. Grow us in the fruit of the spirit and cleanse us from any unrighteousness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
Ephesians 5:1-2
Walk in Love
5 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Christ gave himself for us. He didn’t get forced to be crucified. In Matthew 26:53 it even states that if He wanted to, He could ask His Father and more than 12 legions of angels would be put to flight on His behalf. He chose to be an offering for our sin, healing, and deliverance. Walking in love means that we have to sacrifice our flesh. We have to surrender our will for His and evaluate what we have killed in our relationships so that He can resurrect them. We must surrender our attitudes, bitterness, unforgiveness, and all of our hurt to Him. He can’t make us whole without permission. We have to surrender ourselves to Him.
Ephesians 5:8-14
Walk in Light
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit[b] is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
When we surrender our unfruitfulness to God, we are giving Jesus permission to expose what’s dead and come in as light to drive out darkness and cause resurrection to take place. The longer we hide in the dark, the worse we will feel and the farther we become from our purpose.
1 John 1:9 NKJV
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Just as Christ forgives us, we must also forgive. We might have many reasons to be mad at our spouse, but we must also be accountable for our part. Did we respond using the fruit of the spirit? Did we allow our anger to lead us into sin? Did we hold on to offense and let it take root and sprout resentment and bitterness? Most times if we address issues quickly, then they can be resolved quickly. God is faithful to cleanse us from unrighteousness. It is the enemy that wants us to hold on to things secretly without addressing them.
So today I encourage you to ask God what have you allowed to die in your marriage. I challenge you to willingly crucify your flesh so that God may resurrect your passion and purpose for one another. Expose the enemy by allowing Jesus to come in as light. Know that God has a plan for every situation, even when it looks like the enemy is winning. Jesus finished the work of the cross so that we may also finish the work that God has started in us!
Father, we thank You for resurrection power. We thank You that You loved us enough to give Your Son for our sins. Forgive us for hiding in dark places instead of allowing Jesus to come in as light. We come to You today surrendering our flesh and asking You to crucify every work of darkness. We want to be resurrected with You and experience the full power of the cross. We want our marriage to carry the passion of the cross with full resurrection of any good fruit that has died. Grow us in the fruit of the spirit and cleanse us from any unrighteousness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
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