*TOPIC: MARRIAGE: GROW TOGETHER AS COUPLE.*(Series 11) *Scripture Reading:* Luke 17:3-4 *"Pay attention and always be on guard [looking out for one another]! If your brother sins and disregards God’s precepts, solemnly warn him; and if he repents and changes, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him [that is, give up resentment and consider the offense recalled and annulled].”*(AMP) Marriage is not about negotiating money or ambitions – it is about merging money and ambitions; it is about sharing a life. That doesn’t necessarily mean “losing yourself”, but it does mean prioritizing the marriage. *In a Biblical marriage, there is you, there is me and there is us. And us always wins. You can't grow your marriage if you're always I, I, I.* A marriage doesn’t even begin to feel like a marriage until you get that. Continuation from where we stopped yesterday: *11) Forgiveness must be part of you:* Sin is one of the universal crises that every marriage must make it through. Whether it comes in the first month, the first year or the first night of your marriage, it will come. You will wake up to the disappointing reality that you are married to a sinner. *Sometime a little later you will realize that your spouse is married to one, too.* This is a serious crisis, and the only way you can make it through is by forgiving. That's another way in you must grow together as couple. From our scripture today, Jesus said: *“If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, for and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him”* (Luke 17:3–4 ESV). You don’t have to ignore sin to grow or save your marriage. *Jesus says, ‘If your brother sins, rebuke him!’ – but you do have to forgive it.* Don't find it difficult to forgive your spouse, he/she is not an ANGEL. Get this clear: People sin. All people sin. The Bible says: *"since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God,"*(Romans 3:23 AMP). There are no perfect people and no perfect matches. There are only human marriages made out of two human sinners. So get over it and get on with it. *When your spouse sins, rebuke him. Rebuke her. Share how that sin has hurt you and has disrupted your relationship; share how it has threatened the blessing of God on your union. Tell the truth about your spouse’s sin and if he repents forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in the day and turns to you seven times saying, ‘I repent!’, you must forgive him.* It is the only way forward to growing together in accordance to the will of God. *But if you do – if you are obedient here – then there is great beauty on the other side. When you have seen the worst in each other and you have repented and forgiven, it is possible again “to be naked and unashamed”* (Genesis 2:25). That is a glorious place! And sinners can only get there when they forgive. To be continue tomorrow morning by God's Grace. Good morning and do have a fruitful weekend, peace. *Prayer point:* I rebuke unforgiving spirit and anger in me, Holy Spirit, help me through to obey your word in Jesus Christ name. Amen! T.S. AFOLAYAN