I Do(n't)

Just a little over three months ago, my wife and I said these two simple words to each other, "I do". But, as simple as the words are, the commitment behind them is what drives their meaning. When we became married, we made a vow to each other to be devoted to serving one another at all costs, a vow that was consecrated by God, through God, and for God. We have now officially committed our lives to serving God together, as one, as husband and wife. 

Now, three months into marriage (which is literally the best thing ever, I adore my wife), God has been revealing more and more to me the importance of being true to these vows beyond being a husband, but being a follower of Christ. In Luke 9:21 (NIV), Jesus says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Jesus says we must deny ourselves. Deny our rights, our entitlements, and our pride. He didn't say you "should" deny yourselves, He said you MUST, at all costs.

Being married means you're in closer proximity with another person more than ever before, which means you're exposed to the best and worst of your spouse, as well as showing your spouse the best and worst of you. This often results in ugliness I didn't even know I was capable of, which turns my "I do" into "I don't".  Situations may come up where I'm feeling prideful or selfish and I don't serve my wife selflessly in the way God has called me to, or I'm arrogant in an argument and refuse to humble myself, putting her down. The vow I made to honor God and Hannah is trumped by my sin.

This ugliness is a product of sinful nature, but, because of Jesus Christ's work on the cross, we have the power to turn that ugliness into beautiful truth and love. I have the power of the Holy Spirit to lay myself down, and pick God up. I have the power to love and serve even if it's inconvenient or difficult. I have the power of Christ to show Christ to my wife and others, and that's through following Him and picking up my cross saying "I do".

In Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 (NIV), it says, "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it." Marriage (since it is the relationship that mirrors Christ and the church) has been showing me how to serve God in more committed ways. It has showed me the seriousness of what a vow means. So often "Christians" say they follow Jesus and have devoted their lives to Him, yet when things are hard their cross is still on the ground because the sincerity and seriousness of devotion to God isn't there. In Joshua 24 he says, "If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve [...]". Serving and following God isn't a thing out of convenience. It's not an "oh, I'll honor God here but then do my own thing here." 

When we say we follow Christ and ask Him to overtake our lives, we're committing ourselves to Him and devoting what we say, how we think, how we act, everything we do, to Him. Marriage has helped me understand the importance of being true and devoted to the vow I've made with Christ. Please know though, it does not take being married to see this. Whether you're single, dating, or have been married for 40 years, following Christ is all the same, it's about being true to your "I do" with Jesus, and humbling yourselves like our Savior did so we can honor Him through devotion of our lives.

Jesus, completely free of sin, humbled Himself to human form, left His throne in Heaven, bore our sins on His shoulders, was crucified and raised from the dead all out of faithfulness and love for us. He was, is, and will be committed to us. 

The question is, are you ready to be committed to Him?