Daily devotion – marriage problems
Mark 10: 4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.”
5 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
When two lives are brought together in a long-term relationship, there is bound to be an occasional problem. Many couples head into marriage with very little preparation. I find this sad, as often more thought and research is carried out on mundane things such as cars, clothing and or an overseas holiday.
Sometimes the individuals lack emotional maturity, stability, or flexibility which a successful marriage must have.
Have you taken the time or ever written down what you consider are the pillars of a good marriage?
I suggest this exercise not just for married couples but also for those who pray one day Lord willing, will find the person God has planned for them to wed.
For this devotion today let us take a couple key components for a good marriage for starters.
Mutual respect – Respect means that each partner accepts the other as he or she is, not trying to manipulate but unselfishly nourishing the partner in such a way that he or she may become the person God intended…….!
Yes, God is the key component, the foundation on which two sinners lives who are joined together in marriage, can see experience God bringing Heaven into their lives together as husband and wife.
Respect distinguishes between the ideal and the real and does not demand too much.
The Apostle Paul wrote on this matter these words, Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Genuine commitment – The marriage vow says, “Forsaking all others.” The Bible puts it like this, Matthew 19:5 – ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’
Time and experience in marriage reveal that being “one flesh” does not mean an abdication of personality or personal rights.
Rather, it is a fulfilment of those things!
Tomorrow we will look at another two important components of what makes a good and godly marriage.
In addition, here at Calvary Chapel Secret Harbour, if you are part of this fellowship, we have an excellent couple, husband and wife who provide solid loving wise counsel when couples need a third party to help them through a period of upheaval. This can be arranged through either the Elders or the Pastors by appointment.
In addition, as we will finish the Book of Daniel chapter 12 this Sunday, starting this coming Wednesday prior to prayer, I will begin teaching a series on marriage that will take a careful look at what the Bible teaches on this most wonderful union, but sadly at times can also be a time of heartache for some, unless they seek the Lord’s wisdom on bringing Heaven and God’s great love back into two people who promised each other their devotion, support, faithfulness and comfort, the day they wed.
The marriage series – commencing this Wednesday, the 3rd May.
It was Jesus who said, Mat 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
Paul tells us, …Love….. does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; – 1Co 13:5
These words don’t allow a back door, a weasel clause, for when times are tough to flippantly treat God’s design for marriage with disregard.