Proverbs 13:19 -- A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul...
Michael and Sharon, today is the day that the two of you have dreamed about for many many years. Today is the day that God fulfills your longing and his gift to the two of you is one another. I am so grateful to be able to be part of this day of celebration. You two are models of generosity and kindness. I cannot put into words how excited we all are for you. You make a truly remarkable couple. I am especially thankful to have had the opportunity to meet your families. It is obvious that you have grown up in loving, nurturing homes.
Today is a graduation day of sorts for the two of you as you leave your lives as singles and go on to live as one in marriage.
In Genesis 2: 24 it reads:
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."
God's desire and plan for you today is to become one: In heart, purpose and concern for one another and the world around you.
I have a few things I want to share with you before you pledge your vows. Let these convictions be reminders to the two of you of the great privilege and responsibility that you have to God to make your marriage one that glorifies Him and honors the sanctity of marriage.
When we read the Genesis account of creation, we learn that God created the whole world in a spectacular way.
At the conclusion of each of these days, the Bible tells us that God surveyed what he had done and concluded that "It was good".
Now for any one of us if we could create even one small part of what God did in a day: A flower, a bug, a cloud, a rainbow, even a single-celled primitive organism, we would all conclude by saying "This is incredible!"
But for God it was only good.
Because God had one marvel of creation yet to accomplish -- He would create man in his image.
Genesis 1:26-27 -- Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in their entire vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work." (Expound on the marvel of being in his image-choice)
Later, in Genesis 2:18 the Bible tells us that God saw that it was not good for man to be alone.
Genesis 2:19-25 -- "Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found." So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, 'for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
There was a greater purpose to this exercise. God didn't need Adam's help in naming the animals; he wanted him to realize a deep need within his heart. The need for companionship.
In all of us there is a longing for love and acceptance, approval, and companionship. This comes from God who created us with the most magnificent marvel of all creation: Freedom of Choice. After all, this was the reason God had created man and gave him the miracle of choice
God himself longs for us to choose him: Not simply obey because we are powerless to do anything else, but because we willingly and joyfully chose to be close to HIM.
Michael & Sharon never forget that it was your longing for answers to life that brought you to God. He put that void in you. God found you. Always remember that.
So many in our world never realize that God is calling them. And so they strive to find all kinds of other ways to satisfy that longing: Relationships, wealth, position, or destructive pursuits, hoping that these will fulfill and provide the answer to the question: "Why am I here, What is my purpose? Am I doing OK?" Only God can be the third strand in your cord of three strands.
Never stop longing to be close to God. He brought you together, He gave you this day, He gave you one another, and He satisfied your souls with sweet things.
Michael you must be the spiritual leader of your family. You need to be the one who prays the most for the two of you with you Sharon running a close second (not a distant one). A spiritual man is not weak but indelibly strong.
When God finished creation, He said it was very good. Good is the arch enemy of very good. Don't settle for good. You need to have a relationship that is very good. Anyone can get mediocre results from a little bit of effort or change. Don't settle for good when you can have great. When you come home at the end of the day have enough left to give each other your best.
Michael never stop courting your wife. You won her heart with all the special attention you gave her. Don't stop now. Michael, treasure her. She is your longing fulfilled. She is the physical manifestation of God's answers to your prayers. Always cherish her.
It is said that the man runs things around the house. Learn to run things...like the vacuum, dishwasher, and toilet scrubber brush. This will show her that you are not willing to take her for granted.
Give her the best of your heart. Tell her your secrets, fears, dreams. This will continue to win her heart.
Sharon, give Michael all of your loyalty. I have a secret revelation for you about men. Every truly honest man knows that he is at best a mess, but as long as he has one person in his corner who thinks he is great, he can learn to truly fly.
I have seen so many wives blow it in their marriages because they don't see what their husbands can be and help him to get there. Instead they continually remind him of whom he is at present. They live as though God made them out of the head bone instead of the side. (Rob you need to pay special attention here!)
God chose Eve from a bone in Adam's side. He chose a rib so that Adam would always remember his need for a companion -- someone to walk along side of him, not someone to walk over. God did not choose a bone from his feet so he could trample over her. He did not choose a bone from Adam's head so she could brow beat him. God chose a bone from Adam's side, a rib so he would see her as being equal in statue and value to himself-a true companion. Lastly, God chose a bone from his side so that Adam would remember what God gave him to cover and protected his own heart.
Sharon, be the kind of a wife who is always a true companion. Be his biggest fan.
Along with the "Y" chromosome is a gene entitled the CLOD gene. We men will do cloddish things, be patient with that gene, it's not our fault.
Be the visionary who sees the diamond in the rough and who helps him become the man of God he was meant to be. Don't be the pressure that is determined to turn this lump of coal into a gem, but the miner who will carefully and lovingly bring the diamond to the surface.
Michael, be Sharon's protector and let her have ready and complete access to your heart.
Marriage is intended to be a finishing process (it was never intended to finish you off).
The reality is that God is without gender. Genesis says that God created us in his image, he created us Male and Female. He has blessed each gender with unique aspects of his nature and we come together to combine these qualities to reveal a more complete reflection of God's holy image.
Separate, we can never possess them, together, the two become one.
The way that your spouse is not like you is not his/her weakness. Don't make your differences an annoyance, make them your aim. These qualities are God's hidden attributes that he is trying to give you. Help each other by cherishing your differences and combining them to make strength.
God rested from his work on the seventh day after he concluded that creation was complete. Today is not a day of completion. You haven't arrived, you are only just beginning.
Our work is done at the end of our lives when we have lived a faithful life to God and seen to it that our marriage, children and community are impacted for the good because of our relentless effort to do what is best.
Giving others rest is helping them to see God. Eve was given to Adam as a helper so the two of them could walk together and love God more. Our job is be the light of the world -- to model marriage and family and Godliness.
Give rest through your sacrifice. Determine to give a portion of every blessing your receive. Don't walk past the needy. Don't forget the suffering.
Give other rest through your hospitality. Let your home be a haven where people can come in and enjoy the hospitality of God.
Give others rest by being what the bible called the city on a hill, be the light of the world by modeling humility and enduring love all the years that God gives you. As husband and wife, refuse to grow apart.
Michael & Sharon I have great confidence in you. I believe that your faith in God and your relationship with him has gotten you this far. As you continue to serve him, I are confident that you will shine like stars in the universe. God bless you both and thank you for including me in this day with you.