Letter to My Son on His Wedding Day
On Saturday, June 1, 2013 our first born child and oldest son became married to a lovely young woman. This was our first experience of Holy Matrimony among our four children and a new, joyous chapter in our lives. As a father and Bible teacher, the significance of the day was not lost on me.
On the morning of June 1 during my devotional time, I wrote a letter to my son. I wanted to share a few excerpts of that personal letter as an encouragement to my readers, to dads, and parents:
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To my son,
1 Corinthians 3:11 (NIV)
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
I wanted to write you a letter on your wedding day.
This is a great day and a milestone! This is one of the greatest experiences in life. Marrying your mother was the second greatest experience of my life. The first was receiving Christ as my Lord and Savior. My third greatest experience was the day you were born.
Ephesians 5:25 (NIV)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her …31“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Marriage does not only happen on earth in the ceremony. It happens in heaven in the presence of God. Marriage is an earthly representation of Christ and His church. It is a mystical union of unity in person and in purpose. How two can become one is a "profound" mystery.
For this reason, we call Christian marriage, "Holy Matrimony." Your whole life changes today in wonderful ways. Another person will take your name (and our name). She will become your wife today and the two of you will become one and one in Christ. The "In Christ" dimension is the most important. Since this marriage is being established on the foundation of Christ, you will want to honor Jesus Christ, lead your wife and family into the same life/lifestyle upon which your marriage is based.
Today, you will be married on the Firm Foundation of Christ. Now build and strengthen your union on that same foundation!
I love you son!
Dad
Got away for a day of rest after many consecutive days of necessary work and ministry. Looking at water touching the sky (Lake Michigan @ St. Joseph, MI) always refreshes me. It has a timeless quality, a divine essense, and a largeness of scale that elevates my outlook on life.
