God commands that we live, not by the excitement of sexual or emotional attraction, but by the stable principle of commitment.

The marital relationship is not intended by God to be a relationship that is initiated because of emotion. When making a marriage decision, an objective evaluation of Biblical criteria is more important than an emotional attachment.

When conforming to God’s Law, we almost always find ourselves having to choose between our objective evaluation of the situation and our emotional reaction to the situation. My emotional reaction is caused by peer pressure. But, if everyone kept the law, there would be no peer pressure, and I would have an easier time keeping the law.

The reason for God’s objective admonition that husbands and wives have an exclusive sexual relationship with one another is for the proper raising and protection of children. God gives us the commandment of marriage so that no child will be born to parents that are not related to one another, not committed to one another, and that have not formed a cooperative coalition to parent the child.

We are here because Jesus loved us and gave Himself for us, and also because someone that we don’t know loved us and gave themselves for us.

In Heaven, God will wipe away all tears. Man will not have an emotional deficiency because in Heaven, there is no more death, sorrow, crying or pain, for the former things have passed away. Heaven is a different environment. We will not only be responsible; we will also be in control, as was Jesus.

As grateful as we may be to our fathers for their provision and instruction, we know that we never would have reached the point at which our fathers could help us had it not been for the physical sacrifice of our mothers. Fathers are analogous to the surgeons who perform heart transplants; mothers are analogous to the donors who give the hearts.

Friendship with God requires us to use that which we have fruitfully to do good works, to increase in the knowledge and the strength of God that comes from exercising the power of God, which will lead us into developing the attributes of patience, longsuffering and ultimately joy.