I did, and I still do: An old fashioned look at renewing your vows

I enjoyed the privilege this past week of officiating the renewal of wedding vows for a couple of friends of mine. They have been married for a decade but felt the time had come to pursue a greater intimacy in their relationship and mend what time had started to rob from them. And rightly so, they felt the place to start was with their relationship with their Lord.

That of course, got me to thinking— if there is value in returning to those foundational commitments that came when Love was new, maybe other forms of personal renewal can push us toward equally valuable goals in our life.

1. FAMILY VOWS: While our kids were growing into adulthood, we regularly reminded them that although they may not always like their siblings, they must always love them. The reality is, they do, and our times together as adults are rich with laughter, activity, and yes, at times, the tension of engagement. But when we separate and they all go home, we have parted by renewing the blessings of God for our family through prayer, all huddled there together, crying (ok, just me), and experiencing the joy of a tradition.

2. WORK VOWS: Yes, I’m very familiar with the feeling that comes on Monday when it’s time to go back to work. But maybe we’ve been so long at our job, that we’ve all fallen too easily into the mindset that lives only for the weekend and only tolerates the work week. Could it be time to renew our vows to become an exceptional employee, faithful and upright in our dealings with company stuff; or a conscientious manager, or maybe even a creative, determined entrepreneur who wants to leave a scratch on the planet for God’s kingdom. It’s the life that keeps the company’s interests before our own, and the Lord’s calling over everything.

3. SPIRITUAL VOWS: You knew I couldn’t leave this one alone. But I really wonder if we realize just how much spiritual ground we’ve lost as believers in this present age. How can it be that Christians are so disinterested in the Lord’s work, unconcerned about the Lord’s commands, and pre-occupied with our own interests, so that even in sickness and distress, consequences, and failures, we arrogantly profess that we have lived for the Lord, that we’re ready to meet our maker, and we’ve lived a good life—all with only the empty religious experience made in childhood to commend our “hope” and a life devoid of fruit to present as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2).

4. The best alternative that I’ve found is an ongoing pattern of living that includes His will before my own, His glory before my accomplishments, and his commitments before my amusement…

Wait a minute…I’ve just described the sum and substance of my wedding vows— who knew?

MJC