Laying on of Hands

At the very end of a wedding worship service, the officiant will typically offer up a final prayer over the newlyweds. Then immediately afterwards will introduce the couple as the new Mr. and Mrs. So and So. But recently a friend told me about the most favorite part of his wedding. It was when his church family came up and laid hands on him and his wife at the very end as the prayer was read. He called it a "treasure." I actually participated in this laying on of hands, and I was so moved by the idea of having it be part of our children's weddings. To have your family or friends come up and lay hands on you just after you've taken your vows, is a powerfully touching idea.

The laying on of hands is one of my most favorite things in the church. It's a show of unity in the form of a blessing. People place their hand on your shoulder, back or head. When there are lots of folks, others place their hands on the person in front of them closest to the one being prayed for. In the Bible it was used as a blessing, bestowing spiritual gifts, in confirmations and ordinations, in healings and to receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus did this with the little children in Marl 10:16 "And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them." I have seen miracles take place in the laying on of hands. It's a physical visual of a spiritual premise where "two or more are gathered" in His name (Matthew 18:20). And if you are the one receiving this blessing, it is something you never forget.

It's not something done for just any purpose nor done without reverence. 1 Timothy 5:22 actually warns of laying hands "too hastily" especially for someone who may not have a relationship with Jesus. It's a form of reverent worship and prayer. It is beautiful to behold and divine to participate in.

We wanted to share and encourage this option for our engaged couples. To have your parents, siblings, friends and church family lay hands on you during prayer, as you hold hands as a newly married couple, is a memory you will cherish forever.

Discussion: Have you ever participated in a laying on of hands? Have you ever been on the receiving end of a laying on of hands? What are your thoughts about having the laying on of hands at the end of your wedding service?

Prayer: Lord God we lift these engaged couples to you has they spend these last days single and excitedly anticipate the day when they will be joined in marriage. We thank you for being present in the union and ask for your blessing on them. In Jesus, Amen.

Love Each Other Deeply

Last week, I was shopping for a wedding gift, hunting for my favorite marriage book ("Love Life for Every Married Couple" by Dr. Ed Wheat). When I couldn't find it and was on my way to leave Blessings Christian bookstore, I looked to my right and saw the most precious picture. It was a photograph of two pears nestled next to each other with the first half of the Bible verse from 1 Peter 4:8, which in it's entirety says: "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." Brad loves pears and when I saw it, I melted. I felt like the smaller pear leaning in. Of course I snatched it right up as my gift, but honestly wondered if I would be able to give it away since I thought it was so precious. As I was checking out, Lori, the owner of the store, told me a little about the couple who sells these. A Christian couple, one does the photography and the other finds a Bible verse to go with it. How beautiful that one look at this pear picture and the spouse thought about this 1 Peter verse.

And how directly on point this verse is! Now understand that when Peter wrote this letter he was not specifically writing to married couples. He was writing to all Christians and giving them advice on how to behave as such. In this verse, he was asking them to love each other deeply. See, we as Christians are petty enough to find faults in everyone around us. We pick each other apart because of each other's sins, forgetting often to look in the mirror at ourselves. So the second part of the verse is key: for love covers a multitude of sins. Think about the love Christ had for us so deeply. It covered our sins in the greatest possible way.

You will have many, many opportunities to pick each other apart in your marriage. You will know your spouse better than anyone else, so you will see everything: the good and the bad. Because of this, you will feel entitled to bring those things which you find bad to the attention of your beloved. Sometimes you will do it for their betterment. And other times you will do it to demean them. Take care to avoid both, but especially the latter at all cost. You have many faults, too, and you certainly do not want your spouse to spit them in your face. It's the old Matthew 7:3 log-in-your-own-eye syndrome. "Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?" So be careful when you are nitpicking under the guise of "but I'm just trying to help you out," or "I only want to help you become the best you you can be." Uh huh, yeah. There are ways of doing that kindly. First, imagine how you would want someone to say something like that to you. And second, pray before you speak. God may do the fixing all on His own.

So what's your job? Love each other deeply. We know you already do. We just want to you remember it always.

Discussion: Do you every nitpick at each other? What method of correcting you is the most effective method?

Prayer: Lord God, we thank You that You love us so deeply that You sent Christ to cover our multitude of sins. Help us, Father, to be careful to look at ourselves before we criticize and to gently correct when necessary. We love you, Lord. In Jesus, Amen.