From The Pastor's Pen

Happy Sabbath, church family!

There is something special about a wedding day. The smiles, the happy tears, the flowers, the photographs, and the people who have gathered to celebrate two lives becoming one. Today is a special Sabbath as we celebrate the wedding of Andres and Dolly, on Saturday afternoon as they stand before God, their family and friends, and make a promise to walk through life together. 

One of the beautiful things about a wedding is that we get to celebrate the love two people have found in each other. We celebrate the story that has brought them to this day, the memories they have already made, and all the things they are looking forward to sharing in the years ahead. But perhaps one of the most meaningful parts of a wedding is the promise that sits at the heart of it all: I choose you. I will walk with you. I will keep loving you.

When we read the creation story in Genesis, we discover that relationships were part of God's good design from the very beginning. After creating Adam, God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Gen2:18). Before sin entered the world, God created us for relationship. We were made to love, to belong, to share life with others and to experience the joy of walking alongside one another.

Marriage is one expression of that gift. But what is the purpose of marriage? Is it just to find someone who makes us happy, someone who understands us, or someone with whom we can build a comfortable life? Those things are wonderful, but God's vision for marriage reaches further. Marriage gives two people the opportunity to learn what it means to love faithfully, to practise forgiveness, to put another person's needs alongside their own, and to reflect something of God's character in the way they care for each other.

In Ephesians 5:1–2, Paul encourages us to “walk in love, as Christ also has loved us”. Although these words speak to all believers, they offer a beautiful foundation for marriage and family life. The goal is not to build a happy home for ourselves, but to create relationships where the love of Jesus can be seen and experienced.

Of course, that doesn't mean our relationships will always be easy. Life brings busy seasons, misunderstandings, disappointments and changes we never expected. Sometimes, in the rush of work, study, parenting, church responsibilities and everyday life, the people closest to us receive whatever energy we have left. We can become so focused on keeping everything going that we forget to nurture the relationships that matter most.

Perhaps that is something we all need to reflect on today. When was the last time you intentionally invested in your marriage? When did you last sit down with your family without distractions, listen carefully to someone you love, offer an apology, or make time for a conversation that has been put off for too long? When did you last connect with a friend? Strong relationships rarely grow by accident. They grow through small, everyday decisions to keep showing up, choosing kindness, extending grace and making room for one another.

The greatest gift we can give the people we love is a gracious, Christ centered love that keeps making room for growth. A love that is willing to forgive, to listen, to learn, and to begin again.

We love, because He loved us first (1 John 4:19). 

We forgive, because He forgave us first (Eph 4:32). 

As believers we have a beautiful reason to keep choosing that kind of love. We have experienced it ourselves in Jesus. He meets us with grace, remains faithful, and invites us to grow. Our relationships can become one of the places where we learn to reflect that same love to others.

So, church family, as we celebrate Andres and Dolly today, let’s take a little of that wedding-day joy home with us. Maybe there is someone who would appreciate a bit more of our time this week. Maybe there is a conversation we have been meaning to have, a thank-you we have forgotten to say, or a relationship that could use some extra care. We don't have to wait for a special occasion to rebuild or restore a relationship. 

Happy Sabbath, church family. May our homes, our marriages, friendships, and relationships become places where the love of God is spoken about, experienced, shared and lived every day.

With prayers of blessing and peace,
Malin Andersen Mariner