Ricucci Gary - Love That Lasts When Marriage Meets Grace (Foreword by CJ and Carolyn Mahaney)

Love That Lasts

Love That Lasts

Copyright 2006 by Gary and Betsy Ricucci

Published by Crossway Books
A publishing ministry of Good News Publishers
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by USA copyright law.

Cover design: Josh Dennis

Cover photo: Josh Dennis

First printing, 2006

Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The NIV and New Internationa Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Ricucci, Gary.
Love that lasts : when marriage meets grace / Gary and Betsy Ricucci.
p. cm.

1. MarriageBiblical teaching. 2. MarriageReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Ricucci, Betsy. II. Title
BS680.M35R53 2006

248.8'44dc22

2005036399

ML 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06

15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

TOBETSY

Sweetheart, I just couldnt resist this opportunity
to tell you once again how much I love you!

With each moment that we share together
I become more aware
of what a precious gift you are to me.

Thank you for saying, Yes.

Contents

This is a difficult task. Please dont misunderstand. Writing the foreword to this book is quite the honor for us. But the task is very difficult for many reasons. Here is one such reason.

How can we introduce our dear friends Gary and Betsy to you in just a few words? How can we briefly communicate the depth and breadth of our respect for this couple whom we have known for over twenty-eight years? We could write a book about Gary and Betsy, but weve only been asked to write a foreword!

You might have already picked up on how excited we are about this book. We feel like we know a big secret that many others are about to discover. You see, we know the difference this book can make in your life because of the difference this couple has made in our lives and in the lives of so many others. And take it from us, this is the couple you want writing a book about marriage. Because Gary and Betsy are humble they didnt want to write this book, but we (and many others) felt they simply had to. In the end we persuaded them to do whatever was necessary to make this book happen. The compelling example, biblical instruction, and personal care they have provided for so long and for so many in Covenant Life Church simply had to be offered outside that local church. And here it is!

In Love That Lasts you will experience the effect of Gary and Betsys example, instruction, and care. To read this book is to be personally cared for by this exceptional pastor and his godly bride. On each page you will find counsel that is biblical and wise. And you will be repeatedly encouraged by their humble example as they reveal their struggles with indwelling sin. This book you hold in your hands will transfer hope to your heart regardless of your past, regardless of your present struggle with sin, regardless of any fears you might have about the future. For throughout this book you will be reminded of the truth of the gospel, the power of the gospel to transform your marriage, and the relevance of the gospel to every area of marriage. Your marriage is about to meet grace!

So let the reading begin, and let the transformation of many marriages commence. Let couples grow and change. Let there be husbands who joyfully serve and lead, and wives who joyfully help and support. Let there be substantive communication and conflict resolution and romance and great sex, and all by the grace of God, for the glory of God!

This book was first published by PDI Ministries (now Sovereign Grace Ministries) in 1992 as a very different volume, though with the same authors, nearly the same title, the same general subject matter, and the same sincere intentions.

It certainly doesnt seem like thirteen years ago that we wrote:

With every page of this book weve had to humbly and gratefully ask ourselves, What do you have that you did not receive? (1 Corinthians 4:7). We didnt write this book as marriage experts, but as a couple to whom God has been very gracious. He has set us in a church where Jesus Christ and his Word are preeminent, and marriages and families are a top priority. And within Covenant Life Church he has surrounded us with friends, examples, instruction, care, accountability, and encouragement.

At that time we had been married fifteen years. In these additional thirteen years this testimony has only become deeper, richer, more of a reality, and more precious to us... every word of it! We say this first of all to give glory to our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has been so faithful to meet us time and again through his Word, his Spirit, and his church. We also share this to bring encouragement to past, present, and future readers. For every marriage, there really is hope and provision for a love that lasts!

And something else has happened in the intervening years. Many wise pastors, teachers, authors, and friends have continued to open up the Scriptures to us as they pertain to the vital topic of marriage. Then one day we realized that the set of outlines we now use when teaching on marriage has, over time, changed significantly from the set that formed the first book. So while this book covers essentially the same topics, we believe it does so in a way that sets forth more fully and faithfully the biblical view of marriage.

Anyone familiar with the original book will notice the changes, beginning with the cover. Both books share the same title, but the original subtitle, Making a Magnificent Marriage, while certainly a worthwhile goal, seemed to put the emphasis on human effort, for human ends. The new subtitle, When Marriage Meets Grace, reminds us that it is God and his glorious power revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ that are the beginning, the means, and the goal of marriage. What infinite help and hope that can bring to any and every marriage!

But lets be clear, marriage is not an end in itself. Gods best is a marriage that reflects the marvelous union between Christ and the church, a marriage that contributes to the Lords purpose of building his church and preparing the next generation, and a marriage that offers hope and help to couples and families desperate for answers. We trust this book will inspire faith, provide biblical guidance, and instill in you a determination to cooperate with the ever-abundant grace of God in your marriage.

For some couples, reading this book is part of a painful search for a glimmer of hope. Others are still immersed in the rich afterglow of a recent honeymoon. But most simply want to take a next step toward a truly God-glorifying marriage. Though each situation is different, God will always honor faith, humility, and obediencebecause he is faithful and his Word is true.