Skip to main content

86. The Perils of Adultery

Numbers 5:11-31, Proverbs 5:16-19, Malachi 2:13-16, Matthew 5:27-32, Luke 16:18, Mark 10:2-12, Matthew 19:3-12, Ephesians 5:22-33
Key verse: This is a profound mystery but I'm talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Ephesians 5:32-33

As you can see, Jesus, that is, God, had much to say about marriage. So in a year of your life getting to know Jesus, it is good to learn how he feels about marriage.  After all, marriage was His idea in the beginning with Adam and Eve. Many books have been written about marriage; books of advice and wisdom on how to do marriage better. Many authors share their experience of what worked for them in the hopes of helping others. As a result, I realize that trying to tackle such a huge subject in a few short paragraphs is next to impossible. Therefore, I thought it best to content myself with a few simple thoughts and let the reader explore the subject further as interest allows.

1.    Marriage was designed by God, as a picture of the relationship that He longs to have with humanity. Christ is the husband. The church is the bride.
2.    God hates divorce. After all, would God ever divorce His bride, the church?
3.    Yet, though He hates it, He allows for it, recognizing that marriage between two sinners is not the same as a marriage between a perfect partner, God, and an imperfect partner, the church.
4.    However, most divorces are the result of selfishness winning over selflessness. This could turn around, but only if partners are willing to change.
5.    Finally, marriage is not necessarily designed to make one happy, but a committed marriage is designed to help one become more holy, more Christlike, by teaching us how to love unconditionally, "'til death do us part."

I urge you to consider these things as you contemplate a wonderful gift from God, from the beginning of time to eternity. When God created Eve for Adam, His reasoning was, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." (Gen.2:18) Even though Adam was not alone because God walked with him, yet, God understood that there would be blessing for Adam if he had a fellow human to walk with him as well. The woman would bring to the relationship what the man was lacking so that both would be complete, one whole, the full image of God. By attacking marriage, Satan is working to destroy the image of God itself. When we see our marriage as a testimony to Christ and a witness of His goodness, it becomes more sacred to us and we value and cherish it for the gift that it is. "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Eph. 5:21) What a beautiful picture.

Hymn:
Happy the Home When God is There   Congregational singing

Restore, Chris August

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October 27 Save the Glaze for the Bunny

Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips of an evil heart. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips. But in his heart, he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it. If a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. ~Proverbs 26:23-28 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. T...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 16 Thick Skinned Love

Whoever covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. ~Proverbs 17:9 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ~Matthew 18:15  The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:7-8  Being offended seems to be the battle cry of the day. Instead of freedom of speech, everyone has the right not to be offended. If one is offended, then one has the right to exact vengeance on the offender because, of course, the offender KNEW that he or she was being offensive and just didn’t care. Is that how you see much of society behaving today?  There seems to be all of this offending and finger pointing that just keeps growing and growing. Nothing is being resolved, just more blame that grows louder a...
Post a Comment
Read more

174. Pleading for the Fig Tree

Proverbs 27:18 , Luke 13:6-9 Key Verse: He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18 We have here three main characters: a master, who acquired the tree in hopes of eventually enjoying its fruit, a servant, who looks to the tree to reflect his care and attention, and lastly, the tree itself. The master has the right to expect his investment to pay off. The servant, who has obviously put much effort into the tree, would also like to see fruit. The servant's interest is not only to show his own talent in gardening, but because he wants to please his master. Both the servant and the master are dependent upon the tree to do what it was designed to do. Their little parable is an interesting way for Jesus to finish off His exhortation to, "repent or perish."  God is the Master. He had a purpose for you before you were even born. ( Jeremiah 1:5 & Psalm 139:16 ) He planted you on this earth to ful...
Post a Comment
Read more