JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is Loving our Spouse and Family.

The family unit is God’s idea. It’s a support structure where faith, love, respect, commitment and cooperation have opportunity to thrive.

Jesus gave the blueprint for God’s design of marriage with these words in Matthew 19:5, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Many years ago, Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song for his wife to reassure her of his commitment to their marriage. That song was “I Will Be Here.”

“I will be here when the laughter turns to crying, through the winning, losing, and trying. We’ll be together, ‘cause I will be here.”

Marriage is designed to reflect the sacred and solid relationship between Jesus and His bride, which is the church.

Loving Our Spouse and Family is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com