Marriage Retreat
Once upon a time, there was a couple named David and Sarah. They had been married for 10 years and had two beautiful children. However, over time they had grown distant and their love for one another had grown cold. They were no longer the loving couple they used to be.
David had become consumed with his job and making money, while Sarah had become preoccupied with taking care of the children and keeping the house in order. They had lost sight of the importance of loving one another and putting their relationship first.
One day, they decided to attend a marriage retreat that was focused on biblical teachings about love and marriage. It was there that they were reminded of the importance of loving one another as Christ loved the church. They learned about the importance of putting their relationship above everything else and of being selfless in their love for one another. There were four key verses that helped guide them.
One of the scriptures that stood out to them was Ephesians 4:2-3, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” They realized that in order to have a strong and healthy marriage, they needed to put their pride and selfishness aside and be humble and patient with one another.
Another scripture that spoke to them was Colossians 3:12-14, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” This reminded them that forgiveness and love were key components in a successful marriage.
David and Sarah also learned from 1 Corinthians 12:25, “so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.” They understood that they should always be aware of each other’s needs and work together to meet those needs.
Finally, they were reminded of John 15:12-13, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” They learned that true love involves sacrifice and that they should be willing to give up anything for each other.
David and Sarah returned home from the retreat with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to love one another as the Bible teaches. They made a conscious effort to:
- put their relationship first
- to be patient and forgiving with one another
- to always keep in mind the needs of the other.
Over time, their love grew stronger and their marriage became a shining example of biblical love to those around them. They continued to attend marriage retreats and to study the Bible together, always looking for ways to improve their relationship and to love one another as Christ loved the church.
If you’d like to learn more about a Christ-centered marriage text “Christ Centered Marriage” to 410-936-4252.
JG