July 22, 2026

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church.” – Ephesians 5:31-32

On Saturday I had the incredible privilege of officiating my oldest daughter’s wedding. It was an emotionally complex day. There was incredible joy for the beautiful celebration of godly marriage and the honor of adding another son to my family. But there was also sadness at the loss of that little girl that I raised with great care and love, knowing that she is now in the care of someone else. I have been performing weddings for 20 years, but preparing the message for this wedding was different. What was most important to say to my little baby girl and my brand-new son? At this moment, what did they need to know more than anything else? God answered that question for me when I stumbled onto a quote by Deitrich Bonhoffer just a week before the wedding – “As high as God is above man, so high are the sanctity, the rights, and the promise of love. It is not your love that sustains the marriage, but from now on, the marriage that sustains your love.” Probably the most important thing for a young married couple to understand is that love is not a feeling, but a sacrificial commitment. When the commitment is made, love is sustained.

I can’t help but think how this also applies to the Bride of Christ. If we attend church and serve the Kingdom whenever we “feel like it,” we will have a very broken relationship with Jesus. It is not the feeling that sustains the relationship, it is the commitment. If you are feeling distant from Christ, maybe it is time to question your commitment to his Church. Feelings are not the driving factor but the result; commitment comes first.

Heavenly Father, teach us true love; the kind of love You demonstrated when, though we were still sinners, You sent Your Son to die for us. The kind of love that holds us tightly in Your hand even when we are completely unlovable. Let us be people who love You back with even a fraction of the kind of commitment and faithfulness You show to us.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon