Love Stories 3
Dating Without the Drama
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. .1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV
How Do You Date in a Way That Honors God?
1. Start with God’s standards.
Abraham was now very old, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. 2He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. 3I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, 4but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.” Genesis 24:1-4 NIV
It’s better to wait for the right one than to marry the wrong one.
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. ...2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV
You can’t go to God for guidance together if one of you doesn’t go to God at all.
How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? 1 Corinthians 7:16 NIV
2. Pray before you pursue.
Then he prayed ... Genesis 24:12 NIV
Then he prayed, “LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.” Genesis 24:12 NIV
3. Pay attention to patterns, not just potential.
Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. ... 17The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.” 18“Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. Genesis 24:15, 17-18 NIV
Character is revealed in patterns, not promises.
After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” 20So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. Genesis 24:19-20 NIV