…“take heed to your spirit….“Malachi 2:15

The spirit of the believer should be characterized by forbearance, humility, and love; he is exhorted to put away all anger, wrath, clamour, evil-speaking, and malice; and to put on bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering and to be ready to forgive. A bitter, contentious, censorious spirit, is just the opposite of the Spirit of Christ; and an unforgiving person cannot be a Christian, for Jesus has said, Except ye forgive men their trespasses, neither will My heavenly Father forgive you. Take heed then to your spirit, lest it be said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. Learn of Jesus; He was meek and lowly; patient and forbearing; kind to His enemies; and ready to forgive. A proud, contentious overbearing disciple, cannot expect to have fellowship with a humble, lowly, and broken-hearted Master. Beloved, let us watch over our spirit; he that rules his own spirit, does more than he that conquers a city; and a spirit that is not under control, is like a city with the walls and gates broken down; open to the enemy on every side. Lord, sanctify my spirit!–James Smith, 1840

Come, blessed Spirit, heavenly Dove,
Descend on balmy wings;
Come, tune my passions all to love,
And strike the peaceful strings;
Let every action, thought, and word,
Bring honour to my holy Lord.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning– Psalm 30:5

Weeping does indeed endure. In fact, the night of weeping can sometimes appear to be endless. When sorrow comes over us in waves, when disappointments follow hard on the heels of each other, when physical pain wracks our body — the night stretches on and on.

But here is the great consolation of Scripture. Joy is coming! It may seem to linger, but it is irresistibly moving toward you and will reach you with the darkness-shattering power of the dawn. Now matter how severe the shadows, no matter how stormy the darkness, once the dawn comes the night is easily and quickly forgotten. No darkness is so great that the coming of the Son does not drive it away.

For the Christian, the best is always yet to come. Is the energy and beauty of youth behind you? The best is yet to come. Has health and strength left you? The best is yet to come. Have you lost a loved one to that old enemy Death? The best is yet to come.

Weeping may endure; there are sorrows that simply cannot be faced without tears. But joy is coming…dawn is approaching…the best is yet to come.(Baptist Bible Hour)

When a man and woman marry, the two individuals then become one. This marvel of marriage implies both a new and tremendous liberty for them both and a vital and voluntary constraint upon them both.

On one hand, a tremendous liberty: two individuals working together in unity are able to accomplish and enjoy far more together than they ever could alone. Every good marriage is made up of more than just the sum of its two simple parts. Marriage multiplies the pleasures, the accomplishments, and the opportunities of life.

On the other hand, their new oneness implies restrictions — they are no longer free to make their own decisions or set their own goals as individuals, without consideration for each other. Go to any three-legged race and you will quickly see the awkwardness and bondage of two individuals, who are joined together, still trying to make their own way and rely on their own strength.

Although in our Western culture the decision to marry is made by the two individuals, once they commit themselves to the God-invented institution of marriage it is in effect God who has joined them together. They are therefore responsible to God for their commitment to each other.

What God has joined together in the holy bonds of matrimony is not to be lightly or selfishly or wrongly separated by any mere mortal. Therefore, strive to make yourselves, and those loved ones of yours who are married, more unified for the glory of God. Never seek to divide was God has glued together.–BBH