"....(He will) gently lead those who are with young." Isaiah 40:11b

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Partners in the Gospel

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-5

What does this passage suggest binds this friendship together? Are you bound to any friends like this?

What does this passage suggest is so fun about longterm friendships that our bound in this way? What do we get to see Christ do?

Today, my husband and I celebrate 14 years of marriage. We went on a date last night after we both put in a long day at work and Bill had trimmed a giant apple tree. In fact, for a few moments there, I was wondering if we were going to make it to year 14, the way that ladder was wobbling.

We drove our 183,000 mile mini-van to drop our four kids off at my brother's house and then went and shared a meal at Taco Bell, used some movie vouchers I got as a gift, and then had some ice cream....where Bill contemplated picking me some roses off the bushes at 31 flavors.

We're as poor as we were 14 years ago, but we're still married. We've fought and argued and yelled. We've kissed and made up. We've made it through surgeries and handicaps, moves and career changes. We've experienced sickness and poverty and all the things you promise to stay together through.

Do you know why we are still together? Because we are partners in the gospel. You were looking for a more romantic answer weren't you? I wish I had one. I mean, I love his gentleness and his soft eyes. I love that he picks me flowers. I wish I could say that I always greeted him at the door with a kiss when he came home and had a hot meal ready.....but those are ideals that just don't always happen around here.

The reason that we are still together is because we are bound together by our love for Christ, His desire for our marriage, and our belief that He will complete what He starts.

That is God's plan for relationships. They are for the long haul - no matter what, based on our partnership in the gospel....and then watching with anticipation for how God finishes the story.

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