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Bible Studies for Life Lesson for May 30: From This Day Forward
Dale Austin Jr., associate pastor, Wakeminster Baptist Church, Raleigh
May 17, 2010
3 MIN READ TIME

Bible Studies for Life Lesson for May 30: From This Day Forward

Bible Studies for Life Lesson for May 30: From This Day Forward
Dale Austin Jr., associate pastor, Wakeminster Baptist Church, Raleigh
May 17, 2010

Focal Passages: Psalms
51:6-10; Song of Songs 2:15; Acts 18:24-26; Romans 16:3-5a


Marriage is the never ending
construction project. I don’t know about most of you, but my projects around
the house never seem to end. Cleaning out my garage has taken on a life of its
own, and the end is nowhere in sight. A simple definition of marriage from my
dictionary is “a never ending home project.”

Marriage requires that both
partners give 100 percent each to continually building and improving this
relationship. In this week’s Bible study, we will explore some of the
requirements to continue to build on our marriages from this day forward.

The scripture passage from
Psalms 51 deals with a way to better communicate with God, and we can take this
example and expand it into communicating with our spouse.
God desires integrity
(truthfulness) from us. There are eight petitions that David notes in this
scripture passage to have a growing relationship with God.

  1. David asked to be
    purified. We also need to admit to each other when we have messed up.
    Confession is a requirement in our relationship with God and with our spouse.
  2. David asked to be washed
    and made whiter than snow. God was going to forgive David. We need to put this
    example into practice and forgive each other.
  3. David asked to experience
    joy and gladness. There is no joy when we are in the midst of sin against God
    or our spouse. We have to come to the realization that our sins bleed the joy
    out of our marriage too.
  4. David requested that his
    crushed bones rejoice again. There is no joy like that of being truly forgiven.
    Marriages that have endured any number of problems can have this same rejoicing
    when forgiveness enters the relationship.
  5. David begged for God to
    turn His face away from his sins. David was not asking God to just ignore the
    problem and look the other way, but he asked God to remember the sin no longer.
    This is a key point in our marriage relationship — when a past sin has been
    confessed and forgiven, it should never be brought back up during a future
    argument lest the wound be reopened.
  6. David pleaded to have
    this guilt blotted out. Our slates should be wiped clean in our marriage.
  7. David petitioned for the
    creation of a clean heart. Some marriages need a new beginning. Some sins can
    penetrate so deeply and hurt so profoundly that only God can help us repair
    them. The word here for “create” a new heart means that something new and pure
    is created by God.
  8. David asked for a
    steadfast spirit. Marriage is not complete without a spiritual relationship
    with God through His Son, Jesus the Messiah. Our marriage relationships need to
    have Jesus as the foundation.

In marriage, little issues
can grow into big issues or even major sins if ignored.

Communication with our
spouse and with God is vital to keep this special relationship growing.