Standing on Holy Ground—or a Battlefield?
Have you ever questioned the biblical purpose of marriage? When it comes to marriage—yes, even your marriage—do you feel like you’re standing on holy ground, or does it feel more like a field of ruins, disappointment, and forgotten promises?
For the Christian, above all else, marriage is to be seen as sacred. Something more akin to the Mount of Transfiguration than just a civil agreement. In that awe-filled moment on the mountain, Jesus revealed His radiant glory to Peter, James, and John. In a similar way, Christ desires to reveal Himself within your marriage—not just as a supportive presence, but as the central figure.
The Biblical Purpose of Marriage: More Than a Relationship
Let’s be honest—this might feel like an overstatement. But if the biblical purpose of marriage is truly about Christ and His Bride, then perhaps we’ve settled for far too little in our expectations and understanding.
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5:31–32 NASB
Marriage is more than romance, more than partnership, more than raising children. It’s a divine mystery—a living metaphor of Christ’s relationship with His people. That’s the biblical purpose of marriage.
Marriage as Worship: Living Out the Biblical Purpose
When Jesus is at the center of your marriage, the relationship itself becomes a form of worship. It’s not just about mutual support or happiness—it’s about magnifying Him.
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”
Revelation 19:7 NASB
Your marriage can be an offering, a testimony of God’s goodness, a declaration of grace. Have you missed this reality? Have you overlooked the opportunity to treat your marriage as sacred ground—where Christ is glorified, and you are daily transformed?
Marriage as Witness: Displaying the Gospel Through Your Union
Here’s a sobering truth: Your marriage is always communicating something—to your children, your church, the watching world, and even to the heavenly realms.
Paul writes that revealing this mystery is not only our privilege, but our purpose:
To bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God . . . so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 3:9–10 NASB
Your marriage is not just a witness to humans—it’s a testimony to the spiritual realm of how Christ loves, redeems, and sanctifies. And that is no small calling.
Why Did You Get Married? Rediscovering the Biblical Purpose
Maybe it’s time to ask the deeper question: Why did I get married?
Was it for companionship? Emotional support? A sense of identity? Sexual desire? Cultural expectations?
Or was it—could it be—for something more? Something sacred?
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
Galatians 2:20 NLT
As followers of Jesus, we no longer live for ourselves—not even in marriage. We live for Him. And the biblical purpose of marriage is to reflect Christ’s love, sacrifice, and holiness in every interaction, every conflict, every reconciliation, and every quiet moment of faithfulness.
A Sacred Portrait: What Is Your Marriage Revealing?
They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
So what picture is your marriage painting?
When people see how you and your spouse relate, serve, forgive, and sacrifice—what are they learning about Jesus?
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us.
Ephesians 5:1–2 NASB
When we live out the biblical purpose of marriage, we become a living portrait—a work of art inspired by the greatest Artist, the Creator Himself. Like Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, marriage holds mystery—but unlike that portrait, the Author of your marriage has made the meaning known. He’s revealed the purpose: Christ and the Church.
O magnify the LORD with me,
Psalm 34:3 KJV
And let us exalt His name together.
May your marriage become holy ground—a sacred space where Jesus is revealed, worshiped, and shared with a world in need of His love.
Insight Journal: Reflecting on Your Sacred Call
Take a moment to reflect with the Lord on these questions:
- Why did I get married?
- What are my hopes for our marriage going forward?
- Am I willing to surrender my expectations in order to embrace God’s design?
- What will it take for Christ to be magnified in our relationship?
Excerpts from Marriages that Minister by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis. Available from your favorite book retailers, including Amazon and Redemption Press. (As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.)
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Read more about Marriages that Minister: A Portrait of Christ and His Bride.
