LOYALTY AND DIVINE DISPLEASURE
Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
Hebrews 13:4 (NLT)
We live in a time where marriage is increasingly seen as something that can be opted out of quite easily. If you’re not happy, just get divorced. Bored? Divorce. Decide you’re interested in someone else? Easy—just get divorced. This is not God’s intent for marriage.
One of the most common reasons marriages end is because of infidelity. I don’t believe that most people wake up one day and just decide to have an affair. More likely, it begins with a disconnection at home. Then, there’s someone with whom an emotional connection has been established. It’s easy to grow more and more distant from your spouse when you’re growing closer and closer to someone else. Part of protecting a marriage is safeguarding your emotional connections with members of the opposite sex who aren’t your spouse.
Another facet of honoring your marriage is guarding your eyes. I think of what Job said in Job 31:1 (NLT): “I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.”
We live in a time when pornography is a billion-dollar business. It’s a pandemic the likes of which the world has never seen. And while some may say that no one is being hurt by its use, I would disagree. Jesus makes it clear that lust in the heart is equal to having physically acted upon it (Matthew 5:28). Part of honoring marriage is refusing to engage in pornography.
APPLICATION: Are you married? If so, are you remaining faithful in your marriage? Are there any relationships with members of the opposite sex who aren’t your spouse that need to be pruned? Are you engaging in any activity that is dishonoring to your marriage, and ultimately to God? If you’re not married, your application is to still pursue purity. In your dating relationships and in what you’re viewing—honor God.
PRAYER: God, help me to live my life according to Your standards. Protect me from falling prey to rationalizing behavior that is out of step with Your ways. May Your Spirit guide me in every part of my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?