Topic: Biblical Teachings on the Marriage Relationship (3)
Dear Reader,
We live in a society today that has little regard for the honour and sanctity of marriage as God designed it. Unmarried cohabitation, that is “living together,” is a common social practice of today. With many in the society, this immoral practice has gained acceptance and approval. This week, I will be sharing with you on What God Has Joined Together.
Statistics indicate the magnitude of this disregard towards God’s pattern for marriage and the home. Divorce statistics, although stabilizing, is very alarming. When the Pharisees challenged Jesus on the grounds for divorce, He took the opportunity to re-emphasize God’s plan for marriage. He pointed out that the divine blueprint for marriage was given at the time of creation and quoted from Genesis 2:24, thereby reiterating its importance. Jesus said: Haven’t you read, …that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate (Matthew 19:4–6).
Only the death of one partner should dissolve a marriage and free the other to remarry. The widow or widower can of course remarry, whenever they feel ready, because death has dissolved the marriage (1 Corinthians 7:39). Jesus said: What God has joined together, let not man put assunder (Matthew 19:6).
When you are married, you are bound by God for the life of the one you marry. If that bond is broken beforehand, then a very big wrong has been committed in God’s sight. If your intention is less definite and less committed than what God has bound, don’t marry. Only marry if you are saying in your heart, “till death do us part”.
Today, divorce is almost as common as marriage. God has made it pretty clear what He thinks of divorce (Malachi 2:13-16).
Matthew 19:9 shows that, when a person gets divorced and then remarries, the consummation of that marriage is an act of adultery, except where adultery causes the divorce. Either adultery results from the divorce, or the divorce results from adultery. No wonder, God hates divorce.
You have to surrender your life to Jesus Christ. This is by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”
If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
