The Relationship that is Esteemed by God

 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery” (Luke 16:18).

Jesus followed His declaration about the timelessness of the truths of Scripture… “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void” (Luke 16:17), with a very important example. He used the very first human relationship that He gave to mankind to teach that God’s intentions as revealed in His Word are forever. The relationship between a husband and wife was given before any other earthly relationship or institution, was reflective of the most important relationship to human beings, and was to remain forever a clear and compelling revelation of the character and nature of our eternal God. Despite the fall and resulting corruption of mankind’s understanding of God’s purpose and intention for marriage, it remains the relationship that is esteemed by God.

In God’s eyes marriage is primary. It is the first relationship instituted by God. The relationship between a man and a woman came before the relationship between parents and children, friends, neighbors, or any other human relationship. The institution of marriage was established before God created the church, government, industry, or any other institution. The first marriage was arranged and officiated by God Himself… “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6). Through marriage God intended to establish the primary unit of society, the family, and to empower mankind to fill the earth with Godly children… “Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring” (Malachi 2:15).  Marriage is intended to be the foundation of other relationships and therefore it is intended to last a lifetime… “For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress” (Romans 7:2-3). God’s grace is available to willing hearts that will invest in a marriage that will last a lifetime.

In God’s eyes marriage is purposeful. Christian marriage is to be a reflection of the relationship between Christ and His Church. The Spirit reveals this important truth about marriage through the inspired writing of His servant Paul… “’Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:31-32). The Spirit of truth clearly reveals the connections between husbands and Christ… “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25), and between wives and the Church… “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands” (Ephesians 5:24). A Godly marriage is a reflection of the gospel that invites others to consider trusting Jesus Christ and becoming part of His Church.

In God’s eyes marriage is personal. Christian marriage is supposed to be a reflection of God’s love, forgiveness, and patience to the broken world we live in because these qualities are indispensable for two imperfect people building an enduring marriage… “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:12). Children growing up in a Godly home will learn about God’s grace, mercy, salvation, and sanctification by observing these important gospel truths as they watch their parents mature in the Christian faith… “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2). Godly parents have the privilege and responsibility of leading the children God has entrusted to our care to faith in Christ by word and example as we grow together as one in Christ.

As we grow up into Christ, we enjoy a lifetime of blessings when we make it a priority to invest in…

The Relationship that is Esteemed by God.