J. Grant Swank, Jr.
When Crystal, our daughter, married Greg Miller, I was fortunate to be not only the father who represented her mother and myself but also the pastor who officiated at the wedding ceremony.
It was a beautiful summer Saturday afternoon in Maine. Nature blessed us with sunlight. Heaven smiled upon our gathering in the Lord’s sanctuary.
Crystal
had come to know Greg because he was seeking God’s chosen one. He had
been married before; that union ended in painful severance. Then Greg,
in his mid-30s, found Christ by reading the Bible. There was no human
intervention regarding his understanding the way of salvation; instead,
it was in reading the Scriptures through that he discovered Jesus’ holy
sacrifice for his sins.
Crystal had been reared in our
parsonage. She knew the Lord as Savior when a youth. However, in her
mid-30s she had not yet come upon God’s chosen partner. She too was
praying for divine guidance.
The Lord crossed their paths—she living in Halifax, Nova Scotia,
while he resided in Portland, Maine. They met by way of worship in our
church. What a way to decipher the divine chapter for their next
journey.
It was not a hasty decision to become one. Both
pleaded earnestly with God regarding His perfect will. These young
adults were mature enough to understand marriage as a most significant
institution set in place by the Creator Himself. Finally, they knew
they were divinely meant for each other.
With that,
invitations were sent out far and wide with friends and family
gathering from across the county and Canada. Much excitement filled the
air. Prayer in praise had preceded the wedding.
The ceremony included communion, encouraging hymn solos, the lighting of the unity candle
and exchange of vows with rings. But the highlight was the commission
offered the newlyweds as they stood before God’s holy altar.
When
this commission was pronounced, then mailed to our extended spiritual
family, so many responded with appreciation that we were overwhelmed.
In other words, the message seemed to be that our spiritual community
was truly encouraged by a young couple dedicating themselves to such
spiritual depth. It was a commitment true to the Scriptures.
With that, I share with you this commission, praying that it will likewise be an encouragement to you and yours. . .
WEDDING COMMISSION TO GREG AND CRYSTAL MILLER
Greg
and Crystal, Jesus is your Lord. He has forgiven you of your sins. He
has planted the hope of heaven within your souls. He has provided you
with your Christian lifestyle.
You found Jesus through the Bible message. That Bible continues to govern your thinking and
choices. You witness that you would not trade that Bible treasure for any alternative.
As
you individually committed yourselves to Jesus, now you commit your
marriage and home to His direction. This is your joy. This is your
fulfillment.
You serve Jesus, not out of obligation, but out
of gratitude for His sacrifice upon the cross in order to rescue your
souls from darkness unto His marvelous light. You serve Jesus because He has proven His love to you.
With
such Jesus as the sole foundation in your personal lives, you now
embark upon the creative excitement of crafting a Christian family and
home. Naturally, being a part of a spiritually fallen world, there will
be numerous attacks against your ambitious endeavors. They will come
from all quarters—daily. You are already aware of this reality.
Nevertheless, you already know that the Spirit of Jesus
within you is greater than all the foreboding threats. Therefore, you
will determine to overcome every obstacle for Jesus’ sake. Nothing will
deter you from your Christian principles. You have dedicated your lives
to living out the divine plan.
Your Christian testimony
in marriage then will witness to keeping the Lord’s Day holy. You
already live out this joy. His day is given to faithful worship,
Christian fellowship, deepening your understanding of Scripture and
renewing your souls for another week’s labor.
Your Christian
testimony in marriage then will witness to recreation and leisure that
are pleasing to God. Nothing will taint your offering of entertainment
and pleasure for God’s blessing and approval.
Your Christian testimony in marriage then will witness to daily prayer and Bible reading,
seeking to instruct your children in the ways of God. You will teach
them early the message of salvation, interceding that they will live
for the same Christ who rescued you from despair and sin.
Your Christian testimony in marriage
then will witness to giving and sharing, loving others and sacrificing
for their good. You will delight in opening up your hearts and home to
those in distress, those in need of a real friend. Instead of living
for self, you will live for lifting others’ burdens in the name of Jesus—for this Jesus has lifted your burdens of hopelessness and waywardness.
Your
Christian testimony in marriage then will witness to growing older
gracefully in Jesus—growing in divine wisdom, being more perceptive to
the divine will, seeking out ways to serve Jesus that are lowly and
humbling. While the rest of the world wakes up each morning to gather
for self, you will awaken to help someone in need of Jesus’ love. While
others go to rest at night counting their moneys, you will go to rest counting your blessings in serving.
Your
Christian home will be used of God as long as you yourselves are laid
upon His altar of caring and compassion. Your Christian home will be
lighted by heaven’s smile as long as you remain faithful to one another
and loyal to God’s holy way.
Few have discovered this treasure. Few houses are homes. Few marriages know real happiness
and contentment. But yours will be different. Why? Because yours will
be cupped in Father’s hands for you have willed Father to craft your
love for one another and for your children.