Avoiding the Toll Road of Divorce

Jesus answered and said to them...Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.' Mark 10:2,11-12

Everyone wants to know about divorce. There are few topics about which it is so easy to step on people's toes.

Jesus helps us understand God's heart in this issue, telling us that, ultimately, God says that men and women who consummate the covenant of marriage are one person. How, then, can one person become two again? Simply put, they can't. What God has joined together, let not man separate.

However, God does give us in His Word a small handful of reasons under which divorce is permitted-not the ideal, never intended, not His heart-but it is permitted. Here they are: First, divorce is permissible when adultery has been committed. If a husband or wife breaks their covenant by committing adultery, then divorce is permitted.

Second, if an unbelieving spouse refuses to stay married to a believer. This does not mean that the believer is permitted to divorce the unbelieving spouse, only the other way around. It also does not mean that the believer is allowed to drive their unbelieving spouse to divorce. Rather, the believer should act in such a way-praying, submitting, serving, loving-that the unbeliever gets saved.

Third, if sexual immorality has been committed. This is broader than adultery, includ-

ing everything from pornography to drug use. The point of this one is to communicate that we must take the sanctity of our marriage seriously. Do not do anything that jeopardizes your vows.

Lastly, and this sums up the rest, God permits-not delights in, not desires-divorce when a spouse has acted treacherously. This means to act faithlessly, with intentional deceit, or to be purposefully unfaithful.

Let me be clear, our marriages should be an image of the relationship between Christ and His Church, where there will never be divorce. That is God's heart and intention.

Unless your marriage qualifies under these four things, and even if it does, seek peace, seek reconciliation, seek unity, become one together.

Only as we work hard toward this end will our marriages become the image they are to be and fulfill all that God desires for them.

Prayer Father God,

Thank You for Your high standard for marriage! I confess that I need Your help to live up to all that You say my marriage should be. Please have Your way in my home and be King over my marriage!

Amen

How to Live a Holy Life

Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.' Isaiah 1:16-17

There's a lot of talk these days about responsibility.

When it comes right down to it, who is responsible for the economic troubles going through the country right now? Is it the President? Congress? Wall Street? Greedy rich people? There's a lot of blame going around, and wherever blame is cast, someone is trying to pin down who is most responsible for the problem.

So where is the blame and responsibility when it comes to whether or not our country follows God? A lot of us want to blame some perceived center of unrighteousness like Hollywood, Washington, or the music industry.

We'll read verses like our verses for today and think, That's right, we really need to repent! Except, the we that we're talking about in reality has very little to do with ourselves. The we is really always that guy over there, or those other people who are really doing the bad stuff-the drug dealers, gang members, pedophiles, criminals, and industries that shape our culture toward wickedness.

You know what? All those people may need to repent, certainly they do; we all do. But I have no control over those people. On a good day, I can control myself.

We all need to realize that, while all those other angry people in traffic, or the sinners who watch those other movies in our favorite theaters, or our neighbors who have no idea how to raise their kids (because we sure do) need to repent-so do we. And we are responsible first and foremost for ourselves.

So the next time you're in church listening to a message and you think, Boy, that's a great word there. I know a person who should really hear this! stop yourself. Realize that you do know a person who needs to hear the message-you.

If you want to know who is responsible for all the junk in our country today, start by looking at your own life, not because other people don't have sin, but because until you don't, you don't get to cast any stones at others who do.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

I need help! I confess that I have looked for others to repent without considering the sin in my own life first. Please forgive me and wash me clean! Help me turn to holy things so that the world will know I am Yours.

Amen

God's Road to a Happy Marriage

Let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 1 Corinthians 7:2

What do you mean?

It's a pretty well known fact that speaking the same language does not guarantee that we communicate. For this reason, it's nice to have a clear definition, and here in scripture, God gives us one that couldn't be clearer. It also could not be more relevant to our culture today, which is crying out to have this term well defined.

The term I am talking about is marriage. God defines marriage in our verse today, saying, Let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

There are a number of things this tells us. First, it does not say that men can have men or women can have women. Men have wives, not husbands, and women have husbands, not wives. I think that's pretty clear.

Second, it says that each man should have his own wife and each woman should have her own husband. That says to me that marriage is supposed to be between one man and one woman, not between one man and two women, or one man and two hundred women. The same goes for women. We are to have one spouse. Why? Because Jesus has one bride-the Church-and all marriages are to be an image of His.

Third, notice that it says each man has a wife, not a woman, and that each woman has a husband, not a man. This means there is to be a covenant exchanged. When we talk about consummating a marriage, that indicates the covenant has already been made or there would be nothing to consummate. Copulate and consummate are not the same. One is just sex, while the other is the fulfillment of a lifelong promise and commitment.

Fourth, do you see that word, Have? That word in context is not talking about having someone as a possession, which would be abusive, but to have someone in the context of sexual relationship. This means that sexual relationships are only appropriate with our covenanted spouse, not with anyone else before or outside of that holy relationship.

This is the biblical definition of marriage, which means that it is our definition of marriage. This is the answer our culture is looking for, and they will find it when we simply start to live it.

Prayer Lord God,

Thank You for marriage. Marriage is important enough to You that You will one day get married. I take Your definition of marriage as my own. Please help me to live it.

Amen

Welcome to Corinth

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10

What do you think of them? You know who I'm talking about. I'm talking about those other so-called Christians.

They think they know everything about the Bible, like they have the corner on truth, but we know better. After all, our church is bigger, our pastor is better educated, and we aren't as weird (or stiff, or old, or irrelevant) as they are. Surely, we have the better church.

Is this how you think about Church? Is Church, to you, only the building you go to on Sunday mornings? Or perhaps you think Church is an organization to which you have a membership, which you got because you wanted to vote in the congregational meetings and have a say in how things are run.

If this is what you think about Church, then you need to shift your thinking.

To start with, there should be no divisions within the Church, and in using the capital C, I mean the universal Church over the entire world throughout all time. We are one body, not a bunch of buildings. We are an organism, not an organization. We are an identity, not merely an assembly.

And we are to have one mind among all of us. How is this possible? Paul tells us just a few verses after our main verses for today, saying, But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

We have the same mind with one another because we all have the mind of Christ. We are His body and He is our head.

So what do you think about other Christians, especially from other denominations? It is true that many denominations do not represent Christ at all anymore, but that should not be our first concern. Our first concern should be to think of other Christians (or even those who call themselves Christians, yet are not) the way that Christ thinks about them.

If we are to have the mind of Christ, then we have no business thinking any thoughts that He is not thinking. When we take up this attitude toward one another within the body of Christ, then we will begin to truly become one body. And not only that, but we will begin to become all He created us to be.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You for giving me Your mind! But I confess that I don't feel like I have Your mind much of the time. Please help me to think only the thoughts that You think, especially toward everyone else in Your body.

Amen

God's Road to a Happy Marriage

For God so loved the world that He gave... John 3:16

We all know that marriage takes work, but I wonder sometimes if we let that convince us that marriage can't be enjoyable.

Hurts and wounds have a way of making us believe lies, and lies have a way of destroying our relationships by making us stop pursuing the best in and with our spouses. But God has a better way that helps us to return to real love, a love that is spelled G-I-V-E.

When we get hurt, then we pull back instinctively. When we pull back, then we stop giving. And when we stop giving, then we begin the death process for our relationships.

The first step we need is forgiveness. Forgive your spouse for the hurts you have suffered and the way they have failed to meet your expectations. Forgive yourself for the monster you have at times been to your spouse.

Step two is to stop making excuses, as though it was your spouse's fault that you can't love them.

Excuse number one: If we could just talk, then we could love each other, but he won't talk to me. Even if you could talk like angels talk, it would be nothing without love. Start with love, then start talking.

Excuse number two: I just don't understand her. Even if you were able to explain all the mysteries of each other's hearts, it would be worthless without love. Start with love, then keep plugging away at understanding.

Excuse number three: Our marriage needs more faith. His relationship with God just isn't what it used to be. Well, that's a problem, but love is more important. Drag your spouse to church all you want, but it will get you nowhere if you do not love them.

Excuse number four: She just doesn't value how hard I work for the family. All that work leads to something called burnout, and it does you no good if you aren't making love a priority.

Love. It's spelled G-I-V-E. Give to your spouse what is appropriately due them, especially in the area of physical affection. Forgive each other for past mistakes, and leave the excuses behind.

If you will do these things, then I promise you that your marriage will be rock solid and more fulfilling than ever before.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You for redemption! My marriage has gone through a lot and we need Your help to build it back to where it should be. I choose to forgive my spouse and stop making excuses. I choose to love, and ask for Your mercy, grace, and peace to fill our home as we rebuild our marriage.

Amen

Head-On Collision

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:3

Do you know where your head is? I know, everyone knows where their head is, but how about this one-do you know who your head is?

The Bible is very clear about this issue, giving us a blanket statement that covers, literally,

everyone. Here's the list.

The head of every man is Christ.

The head of every woman is man.

The head of Christ is God.

Can you find yourself in that list? Of course you can, which means that now you know who your head is.

Or is there still some confusion? Perhaps you don't like the idea of having someone in authority over you. Men, you don't want to have to submit to God; you want to do life your own way. Or women, you don't want to have to submit to your husbands; you're in it for yourselves, looking to make sure that your own dreams come true and your own career is successful.

If you don't like it, then unfortunately for you, God already established it as a reality under which we live. Good luck trying to live a life that's blessed by God when you're running around spiritually decapitated and headless!

But really, you're missing the point, because in God's kingdom the people with authority use it to help and serve those under them. So, men, that means Christ uses His authority to make sure that you become everything He created you to be. And women, that means the men in your life, and Christ Jesus over them, should be or are working to help you become everything you were created to be. This is not a repressive authority!

More than that, the system God set up for our human relationships perfectly mirrors the relationships within the Trinity. Jesus submits to the Father and the Holy Spirit submits to Jesus, while each of them keep pointing to each other, trying to make one another look amazing.

All of them are equal; they simply have different roles. It is the same with us. Husbands and wives are equal under God, but they have different roles that reflect the relationships of the Trinity.

These are roles worthy of honor, both the man fulfilling his and the woman fulfilling hers. Learn to give each other this honor that is due and you will be on the right track to using authority and submission the way that God designed them.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You for submitting to Your Father and coming to die for my sins! As hard as it might be, I know it's best to follow Your example and learn to submit the same way that You did. Please help me to live like You.

Amen

Triumph or Tribulation

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Job 19:25-27

How is life these days? Have you personally recovered from the recession?

Maybe the last few years have been rough. Maybe the market downturn threw you a curveball. Maybe you lost your job. Or maybe some other tragedy has struck your life-the death of a loved one, troubles in your family, or any number of other things that so many people go through.

I know that for most of us, when we're in the low times of life, the last book we want to read is Job. I mean, we already have so much bad and depressing news, we don't really feel like reading a whole book about bad news, right?

Well, today we look to Job to teach us some good news.

That's right, I said good news from Job-the guy whom Satan knew by name, the guy who lost all his wealth, all his property, all his children, and most of his servants all in a matter of moments. All he had left was a nagging wife who told him to curse God and die. Who knows, maybe Satan knew she would be more torment to him alive than dead, so he left her alone. But things didn't stop there. Soon he had boils and was afflicted with disease so that he had the worst kind of suffering in both heart and body.

And it's from this guy that we're going to learn good news.

Here's the good news, are you ready? Job learned through his tribulations that triumph is promised in the name of Yahweh. He realized that God still provides the victory. He said, Even if my skin melts, I know that I will still see my Lord.

No matter what else happens to us, God still wins, and we will still see Him one day. And when that day comes, we will be whole and complete. Job's hope was unshakably in God alone, and he longed for the day when his hope would be realized. Not only that, but he longed for his faith in God to be recorded forever in a book.

The truth is that our faith in God, whatever that faith is, is being recorded in a book called the Book of Life. No matter what you're facing right now, is your faith like Job's wife? Or is your faith like Job's, eagerly waiting for the salvation of God?

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You for being my victorious Savior! I'm sorry for the times that I have grumbled against You for the hard times I'm facing. I choose to believe in You for my salvation, and I know that no matter what else happens, I will stand with You one day!

Amen