Dec 18 Devotion: Longevity

Mark 10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

         As I was considering the devotion for today, I was reminded that today would have been my mom and dad’s 82^nd wedding anniversary. When my mom passed away, my parents had been married for 68 years. (She passed at 86 and my dad passed later at age 94.) This type of marital longevity seems to be a thing of the past, but it is still God’s way. God’s principle of marriage is for two to become one flesh for one lifetime. Till death do us part is God’s plan.

         Commitment is hard to accomplish. It takes consistency, dedication, devotion, (and of course) love. The most important aspect to a marriage union is the relationship that the man and woman have with Jesus. You see, it takes grace to do the will of God. It takes grace to keep our vows. It takes grace to stand firm when trials come, and we all know that difficulties do come. The devil hates the family because the Lord loves the family, so the devil fights against it. He tries to insert a wedge and wants to drive it deep. He does anything he can to separate and irritate. Acknowledgement of this truth is imperative in the battle to keep the union strong.

         Nancy and I have been married for 43 years. (That may be long for some and short for others, but it is all it can be for us.) We have faced troubles and have been led by the Lord through several moves of ministry which took us from Virginia, to North and South Carolina, back to Virginia, and now to Kentucky. Moving will try your patience and resolve, but again, grace has shown its sufficiency time and time again. Through it all, he has never left us nor forsaken us. What God can do through us will work to carry us through life’s twists and turns. Longevity is possible because God is able. God’s word challenges us all today to stay close to the Lord so that we can fulfill his desire for our lives. A godly Christian marriage is a tremendous testimony to a lost world. Let us shine to the glory of God.

In Christ’s Service,

Bro. Adrian Moore

2 Cor. 4:5