Marriage: God's Way

Yesterday at Liberty we preached from Matthew 19:1-12 on Marriage and Singleness. Also we taught about Divorce and what Jesus said about it. In preparation for the messages I was so very aware that most everyone I would speak to have been affected in some way with divorce. Either directly or indirectly. It was my goal to represent truthfully God's Word and at the same time attempt to help people avoid this most painful tragedy as well as help others who have gone through divorce to find God's grace and move forward in a biblical manner. Sometimes life's messes are like SCRAMBLED EGGS, the sinfulness of man can not get UNSCRAMBLED but God in His infinite power can restore and rebuild lives of grace.  As I delivered the messages in the morning and evening I was so aware of the many types of people I was addressing.  Children, teens, young adults who have not been married yet. Single adults of all ages who have not been married. Young marrieds, middle age marrieds, older marrieds. Some who have been married for years who have mature godly marriages, others who are married but are struggling, and others who have gone through divorce years ago and some  presently. Many who are longing for answers, hope and help.

It was my privilege to see God's Word both confront and comfort. I was so blessed to hear comments after the services from people in different situations saying that they were helped in many ways. As I introduced the messages yesterday I said it was my privilege and responsibility to preach on this difficult topic but was by faith expecting the Lord to use His Word. Thank you Lord for speaking to all who availed themselves to hearing God's Truth.

The world has it's ways concerning marriage and divorce but they are not the ways of the Creator God who instituted marriage in the beginning. God made male & female to enter into a lifetime commitment, one which is a union of two who God makes one. God's way of marriage is not just mans' legal regulations it is to be spiritual, a covenant relationship that is to reveal the covenant nature of God to all mankind.

Today I am so thankful that the Lord sought me and drew me to Himself over 42 years ago. He helped me to choose Him and He chose me to be His! I am a part of His church, His bride. And because He is the covenant keeping God I can count on the fact that HE WILL NEVER LEAVE ME NOR FORSAKE ME! He will never put me away. He will never divorce me! No matter what I do or don't do He is related to me in an unconditional way! His love and promises to me are not conditioned, hallelujah.

Today I am thankful as well for my wife Karen who in just a week we will celebrate 40 years of covenant marriage.  I thank God that she was a gift given to me by the Lord Himself and I like to think I was a gift to her as well. Seems like yesterday that we were standing at the altar of Union Chapel Baptist on that sunny Saturday evening. 40 years filled with ups & downs, blessings & difficulties, mountaintops & valleys have come and gone, yet our covenant still stands strong. We give God the glory for such. After all we are both sinners who have old natures that rise up against our union of marriage on a consistent basis. But to God be the Glory who has enabled us to love Him and serve Him first and in so doing we have been enabled to love and serve each other through His power. My prayer is that we would continue to follow the Lord's Word and His Spirit in the days ahead so we may finish this HIGH CALLING in marriage to reveal the Glory of our Covenant keeping God.  He is worthy to be seen of men & women, may He be seen in our lives and yours !

If you would like to listen to yesterday messages, go here.