Monday, April 5, 2010

April 5, 2010

"But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God." Ruth 1:16

For 40 days you have been committed to integrating your faith fully into your marriage relationship. That is something every believer pledged to do when they took their wedding vows. Being a believer is not something you do it is what you are and what you are becoming. The promise you made to your partner is the same promise you made to your God. As you live out the one you live out both. As you fail in one you fail in both.
If you grasp this truth and forge it into your spirit your "Love Dare" will not end but will become a way of life. You will see a steady growth in your spirituality as you see your marriage deepen. That reality is one of the things that has excited me about this study.
The key is commitment. While there is something in our human nature that resists and recoils against commitment, it is absolutely necessary for growth and health.
Ruth totally committed herself in this statement and it gives us a good look at this commitment piece. You can learn from her. I hope you will.
Simply stated commitment is eliminating all other options. Essentially, what Ruth said is, "I will choose this one option and nothing else. I will have no 'plan B'".
When you choose to follow God, that is your commitment. You are agreeing to follow only one God and honor Him supremely. You will have no spiritual "plan B".
When you give yourself to a partner in marriage you are saying that you will devote yourself fully to them emotionally, physically, spiritually and romantically. You will have no "plan B".
Going forward, continue what you have been learning and practicing about commitment. Remain fully committed to God and fully devote to your partner. Eliminate any alternate plans and throw your heart and your mind completely into the relationship. You will find an amazing joy and satisfaction in both!
Make the "Love Dare" your new way of living and thinking. Because the truth is that "Love Dare" and "Christian Commitment" are one in the same!
Commit to a future of being fully engaged in loving God and loving your spouse. I dare you!