Framework

Every house's framework has studs - 2 x 4s or 2 x 6s of wood - which are the vertical framing members of the framework and spaced with their centers 16 in. or 24 in. apart.  Our dream home consists of 4 studs:  trust (Prov. 3:5,6), courage (Joshua 1:6,7,9), faith (Heb 11:1), and perseverance (Phil 3:13-15).  We must have each of these, in our God first, then in our spouse, to have a righteous framework for our dream home - an Everlasting marriage. 

Have you ever experienced someone looking for a stud before hanging that heavy picture on the wall.  A hollow spot indicates no stud.  Tap on the framework of your walls in your dream home periodically to see if there are any hollow spots.  If you come across one, you want to check to see what happened to the stud of trust, courage, faith, or perseverance.  Did termites (attacks of Satan) weak or destroy  it?  Be sure to replace with a trust, courage, faith or perseverance stud.  Studs are the strength (the muscle) of your marriage.

In this Christmas season, reflect on the amount of trust, courage, faith, and perseverance that Mary and Joseph had to have in God first, then in each other.  They were the chosen parents by God for His only Son, the Messiah for all people. I am convinced that this young couple had to have a framework of trust, courage, faith, and perseverance studs in their marriage.