Over the weekend Bobby and I had the opportunity to go to Compass’s Marriage Retreat. Bobby was the “Master of Ceremonies” and the retreat donned a Western theme which means that Bobby brought his best accent and even dressed up in a cowboy costume to set the tone, boots and all! Saturday night the activity was Texas two-stepping, barn dancing and the cowboy cha-cha. I’ve never done any Western dancing, but it was so fun!

Usually at marriage retreats the teaching addresses such topics as husband/wife roles, communication or intimacy. And all of those are relevant topics to marriage but I was tremendously blessed by what Pastor Mike challenged us on–to make the goal of our marriages the glory of God and the glory of His gospel.

Pastor Mike opened the weekend with Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

The heading for this passage is “Doxology” a Greek word which means glory, honor, praise, and weight. The concept of “weight” was profound to me, that in my marriage I need to do all things to give weight to who God is.

I can get in the housekeeping zone where I’ve got the laundry going and the dishwasher going, I’m scrubbing the shower and Bobby came home asking for something to eat, but I just kept working. Having a clean house is a good thing and is definitely on my list, but if I was so consumed with my house being neat and orderly that I wouldn’t stop to serve my husband’s immediate need or maybe reach out to a friend with a phone call or spend time witnessing to my neighbor, then my priorities are out of order. This affects my marriage but even more so my relationship with the Lord.

One thing I came away from retreat with was that knowing Him must always be the priority. I was convicted that I need to do whatever it takes to keep that time each morning to spend with the Lord–studying His Word and in prayer. Not because it will benefit myself or my marriage but because He is God and is the only one worthy of glory.

The second big point hit home for me was that we can express the gospel to others. In the last session Pastor Mike talked about how amazing the gospel is in eight words!

Thoughtless Transgressions – we all sin, we have all “crossed the line” of God’s law. (Jeremiah. 3:12)

Real Damage – Because of our sin we are separated from God. (Isaiah. 59:2)

Indomitable Love – When I got home I looked up indomitable. It means “incapable of being subdued.” This is how God loves us, lost sinners. (Romans 5:6-8)

Complete Forgiveness — “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)

With these eight words, Pastor Mike showed us how our marriages should bring glory to the gospel by expressing the gospel to each other. In our marriages there will be thoughtless transgressions that cause real damage, but we, as Christians, can choose to love because Christ first loved us (1 John 4:19) and we can grant complete and full forgiveness when someone has sinned against us. Our relationship should be an expression of the gospel by exemplifying these dynamics. The first four words are always present, the last four I am able to, as a recipient and participant in the gospel, do to others!

What an incredible reality that we as small sinful people can bring glory to our glorious God! I can love my husband because God first loved me and I must forgive my husband because I will never have to forgive him or any other person as much as God has forgiven me.

I’m glad I took down a lot of notes because with the motivation of God’s glory I will be striving to change many practical things as a wife and in my marriage over the weeks and months!

Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.

Psalm 115:1