https://youtu.be/4dh02OnJpIE Trust and Obey, by Don Moen
Wedding Vows
Vows: Marriage vows. The first vows were in the Garden of Eden when God the Father, brought Eve to the altar and presented her to Adam. (Genesis 2:23-24) Ephesians 5:22-24, and I Peter 3:1-2 tell a bride what is expected in God’s hierarchy of leadership. In today’s feminist society, we often balk not just under our breath or in attitude but verbally and loudly for all the world to hear. Love, honor, and obey are words I used in my wedding vows. This is meant for PROTECTION as I learned the hard way more than once! It was not for me to be subjected to abuse or being treated as property as was often seen from earliest recorded history. The idea of husbands ruling their wives and children, found in I Timothy 3:12 is a picture of order, respect, and faithfulness, not dictatorship. Obey is often left out of contemporary vows and this undermines the foundation of the home. (Yes, I am well aware this is NOT popular!).
God’s Example
In Ray VanderLaan’s video teaching I Led You Like A Bride, he explains the Ten Commandments were a marriage contract between God and the Jewish nation. (Exodus 20:1-24) This contract of marriage is called the ketubah. This contract was the promise of God to the people. The LORD God said to the people, Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant (this contract/ketubah), then you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” The people responded this way: “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” (Exodus 19:5-8) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHHFjw7nDX0
God’s Desire
Scripture after scripture the Lord tells us He desires obedience more than sacrifice. (I Samuel 15:22-23) The kicker though is this statement from Jesus to His Bride: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments (be obedient). (John 14:15) And John further writes, “whoever says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.” (I John 2:4) YIKES! This knowing is personal and intimate. It shows a loving relationship.
https://youtu.be/_xNHiRXnFyg Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice by Keith Green
Just Do It
Obeying a husband is NOT easy! With the fall came conflict, some call it “heated fellowship”. Marriage is a picture of the relationship that SHOULD exist between man and God. A human husband is fallible! We know this as fact! However, God is not! If we cannot honor God in the small things asked of us, then how can He entrust us with the tasks He has ordained for us?
Jonah ran from God’s instruction and ended up in the belly of a large fish. Elijah did what God asked and was miraculously protected and provided for during a famine. Samson forgot his Nazarite vows and lost his eyes, hair, and dignity. Joseph honored God in all his ways and God raised him to great authority. Saul disobeyed God and lost his kingdom and his life and left the Jews in conflict for centuries. Jesus did ALL and only as the Father asked and now sits at His right hand and will soon be given His Bride (the church) and they will rule and reign eternally. (John 5:19; Acts 7:56; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; I Peter 3:22; Revelation 20:6)
Hornets
Do we love God enough to be obedient in the small (obeying, relinquishing to a husband’s desire) to reap the reward of becoming the Bride of His Son? (Micah 6:6-8)
Scripture is the story of the repeated failures of God’s chosen bride (Israel) and the subsequent devastating consequences. This is true in our individual lives as well. The one time I determined I was going to do “what God led me to do, come what may,” was followed by nearly a year of consequences in my marriage. I had told the officer and gentleman what I needed to do and he said,” DON’T!” He could foresee the hornet’s nest it would stir up! I thought I knew better than he did; I rationalized it would be just fine, thank you very much. I believed I had thought it through enough and all would be well. In the words of Priscilla Shirer, “Boy, can’t our thoughts get us in trouble.”
My “disobedience” nearly cost me my marriage! Why? Because my actions were the equivalent of taking a big stick and smacking the very active hornets nest into a frenzy and those winged demons were ANGRY! They chased me for well over a year, sent me running for my life, tempting me to dive headlong into murky water and risk my own demise. My husband was right! I was wrong. This is still difficult to admit. I should have waited………. By doing it my way, on my timetable, I left the protection God provided me through the officer and gentleman. When my husband said, “Don’t!”, I should have accepted that it was NOT God’s will or leading at that point in time. I should have WAITED! Obedience and disobedience costs those we love!
Expressing Love
My vows of love and honor would have been best expressed to the officer and gentleman by obedience. Willful “doing it my way,” said, “I don’t love you! I do not honor you or trust you.” Love is obedience. To be the Bride worthy of Christ, we must obey. Jesus is our example. He loved us and laid down His life for us in OBEDIENCE to His Father to prove Himself a worthy Bridegroom. The only thing that truly dishonors God is NOT obeying Him.
The Bridegroom Returns by Jennifer Delaplante
Obedience must be done without debate, without delay, and with a total abandon! This is the sign of a trusting heart and an acknowledgement of His DIVINE authority (both through an earthly husband and in our Bridegroom-Jesus!). Obedience is required to hear the voice of our Bridegroom and even the smallest act of obedience opens Heaven and showers blessings. Obedience is an act of our free will. It is a choice and reveals a heart devoted or divided.
Yvonne Jones
