Marriage should be honored by all Hebrews 13 four the whooping crane is one.

Of the most endangered species in the world.

In the early 19 hundreds, the global population of whooping cranes was down to 20. Without a lot of effort to protect these birds, the species would have gone extinct. Today, there are still only around 500 of these majestic white birds in the world. Whooping cranes live for about 30 years in the wild.

One of the most interesting characteristics of.

The whooping crane is that pairs mate for life. Mister and misses whooping crane migrate together, build nests together, work together and raise chicks together.

The way some people behave, we might.

Be tempted to think that marriage is for the birds. A number of animals and birds mate.

And stay together for life while a.

Lot of people change partners time after time, thinking nothing of it.

Some excuse this behavior by claiming that.

Marriage is just a human institution, but the Bible says something very different. The Bible teaches us that marriage was gods idea. In the garden of Eden, God brought together a man and a woman as husband and wife. In doing so, God stamped his approval on marriage, giving holy matrimony, definition and blessing. The writer of Hebrews says that marriage should be honored by all, since marriage was gods idea, not mans. It is a divine institution, not a man made institution. The traditional wedding vows, used almost exclusively in America until well into the 20th century, and which I am glad to.

Say have gained popularity once again, are.

Good reminders of the fact that marriage is an honorable relationship that should be held in high honor among all people. In the presence of God and human witnesses, a bride and a groom vow to take each other as husband and wife, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part according to gods holy ordinance. I once had a couple ask me to officiate at their wedding, but ask that I include no prayers, no references to God, and that the traditional wedding vows not be used in good conscience. I could not do so because without the acknowledgement that marriage is God's idea, ordained and blessed by God, then what's the point? Marriage is a divine institution created by God and to be honored by all. And for goodness sake, if birds can stay together, human beings can too.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to dailythoughtspodcastmail.com. Have a great day and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as Pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.