I’m not a ‘political person’ – especially politics in the church! However, I take great pride in my country and naturally have dreams and concerns about our future as a nation. As a fan of current events, I have been watching the Obama-Clinton dogfight quite closely (not that I have a choice). Today I read that the ‘super-delegates’ have been issued a deadline (July 1st) by which they must cast their lot with one of these two battling senators. This effort is to ensure that the Democrats have ample time to identify and promote their candidate against Republican John McCain this fall.
I’m no Tim Russert, but even a political novice like me knows that this move makes sense. There is a heavyweight bout coming up with the GOP’s best choice; and that to fight and exhaust resources, energy and focus on each other will only weaken the one that eventually prevails.
Friends, as a pastor, I see a similar dynamic at work within many marriages and homes. Too many spouses are fighting each other and viewing each other as the enemy; when the real enemy is in a place of strategic ambiguity and strength. Husbands and wives who were once madly in love and couldn’t live without the other, now become master players of the ‘blame game’. As a result, the real enemy of marriages goes undetected, dancing and skipping around the perimeter, unidentified and winning – while the married combatants duke it out and homes crumble.
Husbands? Wives? Here’s the 411: Your marriage has an enemy, and your spouse is not that enemy! The Bible tells us that our battles are not flesh against flesh, but against unseen spiritual powers (Ephesians 6:12). These forces of evil are (literally) hell-bent on destroying all of your God-seeded potential – your lives, your children, your joy, your hope. As long as we see our seen spouses as the enemy, unseen enemies flourish.
It’s time to drop your weapons and see your spouse for who they really are – your God-given helpmate and gift – wedlock and not headlock!
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” – Ecclesiastes 4:12
