Two Becoming One
Thursday, January 30
Two Becoming One
In your anger do not sin: Do not let he sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 5:31-32
Steven L. Thompson in the book Marriage is Like Making Mashed Potatoes takes a side dish to explain the importance of honoring what God created when He instituted marriage. He says, you begin by taking two potatoes, you skin ’em, you boil ’em, then you smash ’em until you can’t tell the two apart. Now, the two potatoes have become one! That marriage…two becoming one. That’s God’s way!
What Thompson leaves out in the beginning is that these two potatoes are not the same. Similarly, the two people who join together in a marriage are not the same but, the Gods Word says they become one. They are peeled, boiled, and then smashed to become one. This means hard times and testing seasons will come (skinning, smashing and boiling) but take courage because these times are designed to make you one.
Because we are unique individuals we will have different viewpoints and disagreements will occur in all our relationships, even marriage. When conflict arises we can either handle it negatively or positively. Under pressure we will discover each other’s faults and weaknesses, such as tendencies to depression, irresponsibility, oversensitivity or perfectionism. What causes quarrels and spoils unity? Is it little things or big things? It’s most likely to be the small things that accumulate:
He forgot to take the trash out.
She’s never ready on time and we are always late.
And suddenly an argument erupts. What we must understand is Behind these trivial things are the issue of feelings. Do I feel loved – or do I feel neglected? So what can you do when you find you’re in a disagreement? What does the Bible say about dealing with conflict in a positive way? It says we communicate. Scripture admonishes us not to let the sun go down on a disagreement. Do not let hours turn into nights which turn into days and gives way to weeks.
In marriage you should work to resolve a quarrel. Today’s scripture says “Do not let he sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Do not withdraw to verbal or physical silence. Seek God on how to approach the situation and take action to restore the relationship. Consider making deposits into your relationship. Positive feelings such as appreciation, affection, respect, admiration, approval, and warmth expressed to your spouse are like making deposits into your love account. Failure to do this will mean the devil can get a foothold in any relationship.
Prayer for today: Dear God, I need help! Show me the steps I need to take to open the doors of communication and restore my marriage.