The Biblical Approach to Finding a Mate (Part 1)

   If you're anything like me, you are thinking and preparing for the future and getting some things settled in your life. You're waiting for your "Prince Charming" to come along, defeat the dragon, sweep you off your feet, and ride off into the sunset with you!  Ok....maybe that's a bit dramatic ;) But you get the point. 
    But! How do you know when "the One" comes along? Is there even such a thing as "the One"? What about courtship...or should I consider dating?  Does the Bible even give the answers to what I should do when finding my future spouse?
   Well, I have good news for you! Throughout the next couple of Wednesday services, my brother (one of my favorite preachers), is preaching a series called "The Biblical Approach to Finding a Mate". This series started last night and I am SO excited to share some of my notes with y'all! Some things really stood out to me...so I am hoping that it will be an encouragement for you as well.
So let's get started!

   Did you know that 75% of Americans have pre-marital "physical/intimate relationships"? That means that 75% of Americans arrive at the marriage altar physically impure. How sad, right?! But sad to say, this is the world's way of handling a relationship. Just in this statistic alone, you can definitely see that following the way of the world is so wrong. The world's way of doing things is through dating.
You may be saying, "What's wrong with dating??". Let's take a peek at what dating teaches people....
 1) Dating teaches a non-committal approach to life.
 It teaches you to just date a little here...then date a little there....then hold a few hands here....then give a few kisses there...get your heart broken a couple times. This non-committal approach transfers to after you get married as well.  (and people wonder why the divorce rate is so high in America today...goodness gracious!)
2) Dating teaches you that it's ok to violate God's Word.
1 Corinthians 7:1 states,"...It is good for a man NOT to touch a woman." Dating teaches you that it's ok..."What's a little holding of the hands gonna do?" or "A little kiss won't hurt." That is so not true! Every "intimate relationship" starts somewhere. It has to start with a little touch. A little touch of the fingers leads to holding hands. Holding hands leads to hugging. Hugging leads to kissing. Kissing leads to....well, you get the point. It has to start somewhere. And touching before marriage is against the Bible's standards.

In case you were wondering, there is an alternative to dating (exciting, right!). This is the Bible's way of handling relationships. And yes..the Bible does indeed give advice on how to find the one God has for you. We need to make sure to follow this Biblical plan.  Let's look at some points from last night's message.

1) God has designed someone specifically for you.
      Do you know what this means?? Yes! There is one person out there that God has created specifically for you. And you know what that means? That you were designed specifically for someone else. The idea that "just choose between the good choices and whichever you choose will be God's will" is completely false! As Josh said last night, "God didn't bring Lucy, Eve, and Jane to Adam and said, Just choose one." No, God designed Eve for Adam, and He has one designed for you.

2) The spouse is only found in the will of God.
     Wow...how true is that! Here's a quote from last night's message, "If you get out of the will of God, you miss the chance of meeting the One God has for you."  There is no greater place than being right in the very center of God's Will.

3) God has designed a plan for how to arrive at the marriage altar physically, morally, and emotionally pure.
  Yup, that's right! God gives us a perfect plan in His Word on finding the one that He has for you. (throughout the next couple of Wednesday services, we are going to look at that plan!)

I realize that this post is getting a little longer than I expected! :) So I'll stop here for now and continue in my next post. Hope this series can be an encouragement to you, just like it is to me!