Bible Ballistics: Q&A Time- December 29, 2013 Vol. 3 No. 7
***NOTE—Today is our first “Q & A” article. Please feel free to submit your questions via email, Facebook message, or blog message.***
As we bring 2013 to a close I’d like to share a thought with you today before we look at our first Q&A time. As we all think about a ‘new’ year, a new beginning, a time to review the old and anticipate the new, I was convicted about ‘WORDS’ today, and I’d like to share a few thoughts that God has laid on my heart.
First, an old adage, ‘Watch your words, and keep them sweet, you never know which ones you’ll eat.” We do often speak in haste and live to regret our words or at the least, the way in which they were delivered. So what can we do? I think a couple of short verses can help us think about the import of our words.
Jesus said in Matthew 12:35, “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”
Matthew 15:18-19, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:”
And Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and myredeemer.”
Our conclusion? It’s not just the words that are the potential problem–but it’s my HEART!!! A good heart, and that’s only a heart indwelt by Jesus’ Holy Spirit, brings forth good things. I need to guard my heart, to make sure that the ‘meditation of my heart’, is acceptable in God’s sight. Then my words will be beneficial. Maybe not always welcomed by others but beneficial regardless.
Now, our question for today from Peter: ‘Is divorce God’s will for a trouble-filled marriage?’
This is a most appropriate question for the New Year. We see families all around us falling apart at the seams. We need to help homes and families to know God’s will through HIS Word, and to be more ready to face the attacks against the God-ordained family on every hand.
There is more material in regard to this subject than we could address in one session but we’ll be as concise as possible. I’ll just list the verses and sum up with a few comments at the end. You check it out.
Portions of Genesis 1:27-28, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 …. and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:…”
Genesis 2:24, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Matthew 19:4-6 (Jesus speaking), “…. Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
Matthew 19:7-9, “They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” (Suffered=allowed, permitted)
Portions of 1 Corinthians 7:10-15, “And unto the married I command…. Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 12 But to the rest speak I… If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. …. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.” (Speaking to believers)
Malachi 2:16a, “For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away:” (putting away=divorce)
1-God established marriage for one man and one woman for all time. That’s why he hates divorce, because one can’t be divided without causing harm to each half.
2-God hates divorce!! That should affect my choices.
3-The man is to cleave and love, the woman is to respect and love. The ideal that each of us should strive for.
4-Jesus says that GOD didn’t command divorce but it was allowed to protect the innocent, because of the HARDNESS of men’s/women’s hearts.
5-Believers come under a holy expectation—we are to stay with a believing spouse, or depart and not remarry. Those who became believers, and whose spouses did not, are not to leave but are permitted to remarry if the unbeliever departs due their faith.
6-Marital unfaithfulness CAN be grounds for divorce and remarriage. But a believer is not compelled to divorce an unfaithful spouse but they may, and re-marriage is implied as permitted (this is but the summation of much study).
7- So in conclusion, God’s answer to a “trouble-filled” marriage is NEVER divorce, but we must understand that either spouse is only ONE person of this unit and decisions are often made by one which the other is compelled to live with.
As a believer I am to pursue God’s will, which is intact homes, but I can only give 100% of myself, I can’t demand that my spouse respond in kind.
In closing, remember what Paul said to the Galatians,
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Am I
walking “in the Spirit” or
the “lust of the flesh”?
Remember those “WORDS”…..
keep them sweet!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH OF YOU PRECIOUS FOLLOWERS… WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU.
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