Some people like to play Chess When they think under some stress As characters you must face Since their moves you have to trace The knight makes an L shaped coarse To look at, it’s just a horse Queen can’t move like knight For others she has the might Bishops has diagonal looks But straight moves by pawns and rooks The king, a step at a time All directions in a line It’s a game that makes you think Moving wise so you won’t sink A warfare of white with black On your move you can’t go back

Chess board is the world’s harbour Bits on it, are the armour Queen, king, and soldier as pawn By rooks as castles by dawn Waiting for battle to start Make right moves, be smart Spiritual weapons are right Not by flesh but by His might Our armour are not unreal Put God’s armour without fear Fasten your moves with all truth Make righteousness the true route We don’t save by a chess piece But by the gospel of peace Though arrows approach us straight We move up the shield of faith

Paul was convinced that what we call the Old Testament was relevant for the church. This does not mean he did not recognize the fulfillment of its prophecies in the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Christ (See the Book of Hebrews). However, the principles of the Old Testament history and the preaching of the prophets are still a source of instructional hope for the church. God does not change, and we do not have to change what he eternally established simply because we are pressed by our internal opposition to God’s word. It is no excuse to say this or that is in the Old Testament or not in the New. It is clear that the Old Testament instruction was also teaching of the New Testament. Paul told Timothy that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16- 17). Above all things, the hope of the Scripture is what we all need to persist and endure to fulfill God’s decree in our life.

One of the most beautiful doxologies in the Bible, and in particular the book of Romans, is Romans 15:5-7. It is not only in the form of benediction but also an affirmation that genuine worship cannot occur without unity in the body. In the context of marriage, we can see also that the unity and harmony of the family is the right attitude for the family unit to fulfill its purpose, which is to glorify God. No need to say, a couple’s relationship needs endurance to remain in unity. There are too many issues that can cause stress in relationships. Therefore, couples need encouragement. An application of this Scripture is

that our Jesus is the God of endurance and encouragement. Jesus is the One that can grant harmony between couples. This is why marriage needs to have God’s design. The spouses cannot expect to live in harmony while enduring the stress of life without the encouragement that comes from the presence of Jesus. As the couple minister through its daily responsibility and pleasure, they give glory to God. The couple need the ever-presence of God in their life, as they workout His plan for their family. Then, they can understand the real purpose of their union: to glorify God. REFLECTION Is your union fulfilling the purpose of glorifying God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?