“Sacred Marriage: A Mirror on Sin”

(part 2 of 2)

“Sin never seems quite as shocking when it is known only to us; when we see how it looks or sounds to another; it is magnified ten times over.”

Gary Thomas

A single person can hide bad habits, personal failures, and a sinful lifestyle by simply removing themselves from certain situations and people. Married couples do not have that luxury, but they do have a tremendous opportunity. Marriage, unlike many relationships, provides us with the occasion to guide our spouse into imitating the character of Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 states:

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Possessing the knowledge of someone’s sin is a powerful and dangerous thing. That knowledge can be used to crush, humiliate or gain power over our spouse or it can be used to nurture and guide them to spiritual health. If managed correctly marriage can be a powerful tool to our growing in holiness. It creates a context (safe place) for us to face our own weaknesses and deal with sin. It gives us the opportunity, daily, to build up another person. This, however, can only be done if we are conscientious of our own sin. Matthew 7:5 instructs us to:

“First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

I recently read that couples don’t fall out of love as much as they fall out of repentance. Sin, wrong attitudes, and personal failures that are not dealt with will slowly erode a relationship. When those attitudes and behaviors begin to surface the temptation will be to try and hide them from your spouse.

However, let me encourage you to consider that God gave you, your spouse to recognize those flaws and spur you toward greater maturity and holiness.


(This marriage series was developed from principles taken from the book “Sacred Marriage” by author Gary Thomas.)


Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com