HONORING MARRIAGE

Hebrew 13:4
Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers.
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God is telling us that the institution of marriage is His gift to society, so we must honor it. But, marriage is often pictured in a negative slant, with the society often valuing freedom over commitment. But it’s commitment and responsibility that turns a boy into a man, and a girl into a woman. A society without marriage, commitment, and monogamous marital procreation is a society full of boys making babies they can’t care for, and overburdened single moms who have been left to raise children on their own.

The marriage bed is to be kept undefiled, not only by saving sex for marriage, but also by keeping sexual expression within the confines of marriage. Adultery is a sin against God, the marriage union, your spouse, the other party, and the other party’s spouse or future spouse. It is also a sin against your children because the consequence of this sin is going to adversely affect them, too.

Adultery brings some of the deepest pain of all to a marriage/family relationships. It destroys a Christian’s witness and testimony, not to mention their fellowship with God. It is destructive and hurtful to everyone involved. It is the opposite of acting in self-sacrificing love. Repent from this way. DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. Restore and preserve the sanctity of the marriage bed and show your spouse (or your future spouse), and children a true act of love.

God’s definition of marriage is clear: One man – one woman, united for life. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. And the two shall become one flesh. What God has joined together, let no one put asunder.”

Almighty Father, we put our marriage into Your hands. Help us to remember when we first met and the strong love that grew between us. To work that love into practical things so nothing can divide us. We ask for words both kind and loving, and for hearts always ready to ask forgiveness as well as to forgive. Amen +

The Lord is my light and my salvation.