Verse: Matthew 5:31-32
31 It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Devotion:
Divorce is a hard topic. To be clear, we are not condemning anyone who has come from a divorce, but instead speaking on how God views marriage. It’s a painful topic for a lot of people because it involves the dissolution of a marriage covenant that was intended to be lifelong. Jesus acknowledges the reality of divorce but also emphasizes the seriousness of the decision. He reminds us that divorce should not be taken lightly and that it can have damaging consequences not only for the spouses involved but also for their families and communities.
As followers of Christ, we are called to uphold the sanctity of marriage and to work towards reconciliation and restoration whenever possible. We are called to love and forgive as Christ has loved and forgiven us, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. The emphasis here is that we try to work it out whenever possible. Jesus also doesn’t want to stay in a situation where you are unsafe. That’s a discussion for another day, but just know that you are cared for and treasured by the Lord, and that’s how your spouse should treat you too. We’re broken humans and aren’t going to always do it perfectly, but in extreme cases of brokenness reconciliation may not be possible.
If you are struggling in your marriage or know someone who is facing the prospect of divorce, I encourage you to seek wise counsel, pray endlessly, and pursue reconciliation with humility and grace. Don’t walk through it alone. Remember that God’s grace is sufficient for all our weaknesses and that He can provide healing and restoration in even the most broken situations.
We should strive to honor God in our marriages, seeking His guidance and strength to overcome challenges and build strong, lasting relationships that reflect His love and faithfulness. His heart for us is that we mirror His love- quick to forgive, slow to anger, and always ready to extend grace and mercy to those in need.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the beautiful covenant of marriage. Thank you for teaching us how to honor it and treasure it as you do. Lord, be with us as we endure hardship and challenges in our marriages. Show us how to draw near to you and reconcile. Lord, if any of us reading this today are considering divorce, draw near to us in our broken heartedness. Remind us how love, treasured, and valued we are by you. guide our steps to seek out counsel as we move forward with Your will for our relationships. We love you lord, amen.
Author: Becca Artymenko
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