Today, my sister Mary is wed to her boyfriend and long time friend Seth. Soon they will be off for to their honeymoon and then off to build a life and family together. That’s exciting. It’s also going to be challenging.

This is my prayer for May and Seth on their wedding day, for their marriage to come.

Philippians 4:8-9:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Jesus, I pray first and foremost that in Mary and Seth’s marriage, that you would be glorified and lifted up. That their affection and love for one another would be a reflection of their love and affection for you. When those who do not know you yet would see you when they see Mary and Seth. By your power and provision, make the tiniest of opportunities into the biggest of possibilities. Let them waste no opportunity. Let them never think too little of what it means to represent you to the world in their marriage.

Next Jesus, I pray for Seth. I pray for Seth as your servant in his personal life, and as the youth pastor of his Church. I pray that you would challenge him as a man. Challenge him, aside from all of his personal aspirations and expectations, to lay his life down before you as a true living sacrifice. Let him hold nothing in higher esteem than your intentions for him. I also pray for Seth as a new husband and father. Help him to place himself in his proper place, as a strong leader in their household and as a servant caregiver, and lover. Let him care for Mary as he would his own body. I pray that you would take every fear and hesitation and turn it to trust in your power and worth.

Jesus, I pray also for Mary, a sister and friend I love and care for deeply. I pray that you would challenge her in new ways to pursue you and trust you. I pray that you would defend her from the temptation to place her worth and value in her husband—to be see it increasingly in you and your sacrifice for her on the cross. I pray that you would help her to exist in happiness and harmony with her husband. Help her to trust and support Seth in his endeavors. Help her to submit to Seth’s leadership, not blindly or begrudgingly, but lovingly and in partnership with him to learn how best to serve you and further your kingdom. Jesus, I pray that you would take the bad habits that Mary has learned and submit them to you for reformation. Help her not to be anxious or nervous, but rather at peace, knowing that although difficulty will come, it will always be, in an ultimate sense, for her best and your glory. Help her to see her beauty in you and live life in that truth.

Jesus, for my niece Meg, who moves today from being the daughter of a single mother to the daughter of a family unit. Jesus I pray that you would make this transition as harmless as possible. Help her to find peace in her newly married parent’s love for you and each other. Give her strength in times of conflict and help her to see the immeasurable value in trusting you. Jesus, I pray that you would protect her from the lies the enemy will tell her about her worth. I pray that even though the next few months and years will be full of challenging transitions, she would know that you love her and her value is in you. Nowhere else. Help her also to see her own roll in supporting her Mother’s marriage. Help her to be an instrument of success for them as a couple.

Jesus, as a family, I pray for Mary and Seth and Meg. I pray that you would help them to love each other. Help them to be open and honest. Help them to pray and seek you as a family unit, sent as ambassadors of your kingdom. Give them strength. Help them to exhibit every fruit of the Spirit. Help them not to ignore conviction, but respond to it in repentance. As a family, help them never to brush the trouble under the carpet, but lovingly work through their wrongs to become a stronger and more you-glorifying unit of your people.

Lastly Jesus, I pray for the unborn children of Mary and Seth’s love for one another. I pray that you would, by their parent’s direction and example, make them not only children of a loving couple, but children of a loving God. Give them every opportunity. Give them every good thing you desire. Give them your specific, soul saving love. Give them earth shattering faith in your power.

Jesus, I know you have more good in mind than I could ever dream. You’re intentions are higher than my highest sights can be set. Help us to love you, trust you and glorify you in everything. Be all that you truly are in our lives and raise our standards Lord.

And just in case I wasn’t clear enough, it’s in your name I pray these things, Jesus Christ, the perfect son of God.

I have recently been provoked to reassess my convictions on various things. This is good. Introspection and reconsideration are good. Willingness to be proven wrong are good. We either come out the other side more attuned to our convictions, or realizing that we were in error.

This is where I am, although I will not dive into specifics. At least not right now.

But at the same time as I am seeking the scriptures to better understand the way I ought or ought not live, I am also being challenge not to allow myself to read more into scripture than is really there. Personally, when I am thoroughly challenged in my conviction (particularly by a respected brother or sister), I will have the tendency to either produce the fault in myself and so win back their approval. Or, for my own conceit, find the justification for my conviction in scripture, whether it’s there to be found or not.

But reading in 1 Corinthians today, I’m challenged particularly by what Paul writes, using Apollos and himself as an example for the church.

1 Corinthians 4:3-5:

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”

Paul has established that in spite of what others might say about him, his conscience is clean—however, that is not evidence enough in itself to to ‘acquit’ him of guilt. Rather, he explains that it is God who is the only one who can truly judge. For us this means God’s Word.

I find myself in a similar position to the one Paul describes here. Although I have a clean conscience, I cannot be confident on that alone. When I am challenged by a brother, I must accept that perhaps I have misunderstood, misread, or misinterpreted the only right foundation for a clean conscience.

But it’s in Paul’s next words that I’m particularly struck.

1 Corinthians 4:6:

“I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.”

Whether in vindicating myself, or in seeking another’s approval, I should be especially careful “not to go beyond what is written”. I must allow no part of myself to be sacred. Instead, faithfully seek God’s word to establish a right conviction—whether it find me affirmed in the area I was challenged, or find me convicted and repentant of some sin.

But all the while, I rest assure that God’s grace in the blood of Jesus Christ is greater than all and he will guide me to truth, eventually. And in that there will be glory and satisfaction.