It’s a Question of Blood Flow

 

A couple of years ago, I was diagnosed with a blood circulation disorder called Raynaud’s Syndrome. Depending on the severity,  the symptoms can range from mild discomfort to extreme pain of fingers and toes when even briefly exposed to cold temperatures. Thankfully, my symptoms are relatively mild. So, during the colder months, I just have to keep myself bundled up, wear a warm hat and gloves, and minimize exposure to extremely cold temperatures. Granted, shoveling snow in freezing temperatures is always going to be difficult for me. But, as medical conditions go, there are a lot worse.

 

The issue with Raynaud’s Syndrome is that the cold significantly constricts the small blood vessels in your extremities making it difficult or impossible for blood to adequately circulate. Without sufficient blood flow, digits become numb and in extreme conditions, gangrene can set in. Cold temperatures are the enemy.

 

In the human anatomy, there is no substitute for blood flow. Blood is the source of life. It’s all about the blood in the body. But, it has spiritual implications as well.

 

 

During a recent time of devotion and prayer, Dalia and I were discussing the heaviness that we are feeling in our lives right now. As we worked to understand the source of these feelings, Dalia pinpointed the challenge that in our role as marriage ministry leaders, the weight of knowing the enduring struggles with the flesh of so many couples often makes it difficult for us to remain joyful ourselves.

 

So, many Christian couples are suffering from a spiritual parallel to my Raynaud’s Syndrome. The blood of Christ is not flowing well in marriage. Our power as believers is in the shed blood of Jesus. The blood never loses its power. But, what happens when the blood of Christ cannot flow in your marriage because husbands and wives are cold towards each other? Let’s be real. Jesus’ blood will not freely flow in your frigid home.

 

Far too many Christian couples cannot move their marriage out of its deep winter season. Cold couples are emotional blizzards whipping insults and innuendo with reckless abandon. Cold couples are frozen by insidious secrets and selfish motivations. Cold couples have become numb to the harm they are doing to their marriage. Ultimately, cold couples experience spiritual death in their marriage–even if their marriage manages to avoid divorce court.

 

 

The book of Malachi (2:13-14) gives an indictment of our cold marriages in noting that God is not accepting your offerings or hearing your tears and groans simply because of the faithlessness in your marriage. Further down, the scriptures admonish us to “guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless” (v 16). 

 

The only way for a Christian marriage to experience the free flow of the blood of Christ is to guard your spirit with faithfulness to each other. Be faithful in paying attention and considerate of each other. Be faithful in the way you communicate with each other. Be faithful in generously serving each other. Be faithful in your intimacy together. This is how you avoid or minimize your time in the cold winter seasons of marriage.

 

Dalia and I are going to spend the winter seasons in a warmer climate to avoid the physical effects of my medical condition. But, what I’m most proud of is that Dalia and I have learned some best practices around faithfulness to experience the full power of Christ’s blood maturing our spiritual condition.

 

Dalia and I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and remind you that the birth and death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gives our marriages full access to the miraculous power of Christ’s blood. I love the words of the gospel song by Andre Crouch. It’s the blood that gives us strength from day to day. It’s the blood that soothes doubts and fears and dries all my tears. The blood of Christ will never lose its power. As we head into a new year, will you determine to let the blood of Christ reach to the highest mountains and the lowest valleys of your marriage? We all need Christ’s blood flowing through your marriage.