They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.   Ezra 9:2

Marriage is between a man and a woman, and Christian marriage is between two Christians. This is God’s plan, and attempts to circumvent His plan can lead to watered down faith and a lifestyle lived contrary to Christian principles. This is the risk you take if you marry someone who is not a committed follower of Jesus Christ. Christian marriage already has plenty of challenges without the added confusion brought on by mixed belief systems and values. Two contrasting faiths are like blending oil and water. It doesn’t work, and it creates a mess.

Opposites may attract, but a common faith is a must for a healthy marriage. The co-mingling of faiths can cause, among other things, confusion in children. Whose faith do they follow? This creates insecurity in their impressionable hearts. People with differing faiths may be able to coexist, but they miss the intimacy of a mutual commitment to the same heavenly Father. It takes more than love for one another to have a happy, holy, and fulfilling marriage. A bountiful marriage is one in which both husband and wife are madly in love with Christ. He is the originator and sustainer of marriage. He models marriage, with the church as His bride (Revelation 21:9).

One good question to ask a prospective life mate is, “Do you love God more than you love me?” If the answer is yes, you will be in better hands as a husband or a wife. Without this level of faith in God, you lose the leverage of a loving Savior. Jesus Christ is the plumb line in marriage. He is the baseline and the standard. His life, His death, His teachings, and His example set the stage for Christian marriage. There are boundaries and expectations that He defines for a successful marriage. Therefore, the wise husband and wife look to God and ask Him for direction, forgiveness, and ways to love each other. Your gratitude to God for His great love and forgiveness becomes the model of how you love and forgive your spouse.

The goal of Christian marriage is to reflect our relationship with God. Marriage is a sacred relationship that God understands oh so well. He understands that your faith can become a wedge or a weld. By faith, He will galvanize your hearts together; By faith, He will allow you to weather the storms together; By faith, He will give you joy together; By faith, He will allow you to experience life together to its fullest; By faith, He will give you wisdom to raise children together; By faith, He will give you grace to live the Christian life together.

Most of all, by faith, He will allow you to enjoy Him and each other together. Your common faith in Jesus Christ is the oil that lubricates your marriage machinery. It is the water that satisfies your thirsty soul. Let your marriage start with a common belief in the same God, the Father of your Lord Jesus Christ. Love Him and each other passionately and with abandon. This will pull your marriage together and drive you toward the same destination of hope and heaven. A common faith commitment is a non-negotiable for the Christian marriage. Mold your marriage around your Master.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I trust You to lead me to a husband or wife who loves You more than they love me.

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