Pain, Desire, Rule

Because of sin, so often rather than loving nurture and loving respect -- marriages become torn through the desires of subversion and oppression. Marriage is to to be a living expression of Christ and His Church as Ephesians 5:22-33 makes clear. Jesus did not oppress, exploit or abuse the church, He gave His life so that it could have life, love, and forgiveness. The church is not to try to make itself more powerful than Christ or manipulate the Scriptures for it's own earthly desires. O Lord, let our marriages lift up this truth through your grace! Amen!