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Thursday, February 26, 2009
Divorce!
"It was also said, 'Any person that divorces his wife must
give her a written notice of divorce.' But I tell you that
any person that divorces his wife is causing his wife to be
guilty of the sin of adultery. The only reason for a person
to divorce his wife is if his wife had sexual relations with
another man. And any person that marries that divorced woman
is guilty of the sin of adultery."
-- Matthew 5:31-32 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
The prophet Malachi said it forcefully, "God hates divorce!" Jesus'
words here are equally emphatic. Jesus' condemnation is specifically
directed to men because they were the only ones in Jewish culture in
Jesus' time who could divorce a marriage partner. A woman was left with
few options other than remarriage or poverty. While God hates divorce,
Jesus' ministry demonstrates God's love for those broken by it (cf.
John 4). In fact, God hates divorce because of the brokenness it
creates in the lives of those involved and the loss of character in one
or both parties that often causes divorce. Because of their love for
God, husbands and wives have as their goal two key things: (1) loving
each other and (2) learning faithfulness through their relationship
with each other. By pursuing a loving relationship and remaining
faithful sexually, they are guarding themselves against divorce and
honoring God by maintaining their covenant with him and with each
other. In an age where promiscuity and sexual indiscretion run rampant,
we must heed the call to sexual purity and loving commitment so that
divorce can be prevented and its devastation avoided.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Holy and faithful God, please help me keep my heart loyal and true. I
want to be a person of character. Empower me by your Spirit to stay
free of sexual sin and to be faithful in the commitments I make. Holy
God, if I am married, I pray that you not only keep me from divorce,
but that you also lead me to a life of loving service with my marriage
partner. In addition, dear Father, please strengthen and bless those
that I know who are in marriage distress and ransom their marriage from
impending divorce. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
>> full text of today's key passage. Read it at:
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/matthew/0226-wjd.html
>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Matthew+5:31-32&sr=1&t=erv
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