God's Blue Print for Marriage Part 2 - A Living Picture of God's Image

Source: godlywoman.co via Denise on Pinterest

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. ~ Genesis 1:26-31


What does it mean to be created in the image of God or in His likeness if He has no physical body?

• we are reflections of His glory
• our entire self reflects His image
• we have the ability to reflect His character - love, patience, kindness, forgiveness and faithfulness

A Living Picture of the Image of God in Our Marriage:

1. My husband and I were created in the image of God. Our marriage reflects His glory.  When we come into unity we glorify what God has intended...oneness. The word says, "let them", which makes us a team.  Together we reflect the image of God.  
2. Think about any kind of team, soccer, baseball... really any team; each person has a job to do to achieve one goal.  No one is more than the other.  There may be times that one person on the team gets more cheers then the other teammates, but without those teammates that one person could not get to where he/she is.  That is marriage.  We each have a different position and job we have to fill, but without the other, the team is incomplete and the goal cannot be achieved.  When we first married, it was so easy for me to want to please my husband and make sure that I did what God called me to do on this team. Now as we have lived with each other for many years and many responsibilities came, I find that it is not as easy as it used to be.  Oneness is not something that I can expect just because I came into marriage.  Oneness is something that I must work at daily.  Oneness can only be achieved (in my opinion), when I look at my husband and I see God's creation.  I see God's image.  I see God's intention.  I see the importance, the significance of what he (my husband) brings to OUR TEAM.  I can't do everything in our marriage, nor should I expect to.  I need my husband.  Together we cheer each other on, help each other when one falls and gets hurt, WE take out and put back the equipment that we use on our team.... etc. 
3. When I criticize my husband, judge him or create division (because I want it my way), I am dishonoring God.  I open the door for Satan to come into my marriage and home.  I say yes to DISCORD!  Many times division is created because of misunderstanding. Many times my husband says something to me that I get offended by.  Why? In his mind he is trying to communicate something, that my mind is processing and translating differently.  SO, I have learned to always ask "what do you mean?" before I put up my wall.  It is so important to find ways to diminish the desire to be wall builders.  Every wall built is a step AWAY from oneness - GOD's PURPOSE IN MARRIAGE.  
4. When I recognize my purpose is to reflect the image of God, the Holy Spirit convicts me.  He reminds me of His fruits: love, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, joy, faithfulness, goodness and self-control.  He helps me from hardening my heart towards my husband when certain things occur and start living out his fruits. 
5. God's character must be reflected in me (and my husband) towards my husband- DAILY! When I show my husband love when I am tired and busy I reflect God's image and come into oneness. When I am patient with my husband, especially when I am in a rush to do something else, I reflect God's image and come into oneness. When I show kindness towards him, even when he is in a bad mood because he had a rough day at work, I reflect God's image and come into oneness. When I forgive him because of what he said that hurt my feelings (which is never his intention or even realizes), I reflect God's image and come into oneness. When I keep my word that I will do what he asked me to and not keep putting it off for the next day, I reflect God's image and come into oneness. When I create and keep joy in my home, even when I have had the hardest day, I reflect God's image and come into oneness. When I tame my tongue instead of making my point and wanting to be better and right, I reflect God's image and come into oneness. When I through water on the fire and make sure we are at peace with each other, I reflect God's image and come into oneness. 

This is what makes my marriage strong.  I can have every book on how to manage my finances in a family of #? or have the most amazing intimacy with my husband, or even read books on end on how to communicate better to my husband (these are not bad things to do - they are just secondary), but then I will never live out God's purpose for my marriage.  I must daily seek to reflect God's character in my life and in my marriage and see my husband as God's awesome creation. When I do that I will come into oneness with my husband, I will see God's Glory! and we will reflect God's image.

Note: Some readers may feel offended because I only focus on the woman's role in marriage.  I understand that it is important that the husband do the same and there is a role he must fill, but I can only speak what God has placed in my heart and what I have to live out in my life as a wife.  Hopefully in the future my husband can encourage other husbands out there on the same topic.   Thank you for understanding. 

I hope you would join me next Monday for Part 3 of God's Blue Print for Marriage, as we go to the Word of God and discover God's purpose for our marriages.

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Two Shall Become One Marriage Link-Up

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