Yesterday, I started to read Matthew Chapter 19.
I was about to write on the topic of marriage and divorce, when I came to verse 8, and the Lord suddenly told me to stop, and consider the problems with progressive thought. So - before going on and reading the rest of this poem, I invite you to look back at Matthew 19 Part 1. It’s called, Progressive Christianity, because it addresses the human problem of enlightenment thinking. Apparently, Holy Spirit wanted me to understand the problem with progressive thinking before addressing the topic of marriage and divorce. And now I understand because it set the stage for what I’m about to say. In this passage, Jesus is seen ministering to people about the Kingdom of Heaven, when the Pharisees come questioning Him about the Law. Just a reminder- The hypocrites motive was never to listen to what Jesus said. They just wanted to entice Him and try to prove Him wrong. They were what God calls, "Blind." Scripture says, “The Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” Jesus said, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ ‘For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate.” Matthew 19:4-6 So, there it is. Jesus's answer is precise! Marriage was never intended for separation. Marriage was never intended for divorce. The Pharisees then asked a great question, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and send her away?” Matthew 19:7 Jesus responded again, “Because of the hardness of your hearts, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” Matthew 19:8 I find it so interesting that God would allow a law to be given that does not reflect His heart. I mean, think about it. God permitted a Law to extend from the heart of a man, rather than extend from the heart of God. Jesus made it very clear why divorce exists. He said it's because of "hardness of heart." The prophet Malachi said this, “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, covers his garment with violence, So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.” Malachi 2:16 God spoke through Malachi, that divorce is bad. He said when a man divorces his wife, he covers his heart with violence and expresses faithlessness towards God. That is not good! You see, divorce implies a lack of love. And lacking love implies a lack of faith in God. So, what is love? And “if we are supposed to love then why is God giving us permission to lack in it?” This is what Paul said, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. Love is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 So now that we know what love is, how do we apply it? The Apostle Paul said, Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4:7-21 So basically, God’s definition of love is way more than we can possibly understand. But true love is always connected to Him. Divorce is bad in the eyes of God, even though he permits it. Divorce is tied to personal gain, bitter feelings, a violent heart and pride. Divorce is destructive and rips what God intended to be One, APART Divorce typically leads to many hurt hearts. Divorce is tied to progressive thought where man decides what is wrong or right. Do we ever stop to think, "What does God want?" Did you know that Jesus PERMITTED the demons to live when He cast them out of a man, put them into pigs and cast them into the sea. Read this. “The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.” Mark 5:12-13 You may be wondering why. Why does God allow for things that do not reflect His heart? Well, once again, Paul says it best. In His letter to Timothy, he said, “the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine.” 1 Timothy 1:8-10 You see, the Law that was set by God for man to follow is just an instrument for us to reflect. The mirror shows how perfect God is and how imperfect we are. It is impossible for us, as humans, who have deceitful hearts, to fully comply with the Law set by God. The law is a shadow of the good things to come - not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Hebrews 10:1 “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can NEVER take away sins. But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for ALL time ONE sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by ONE sacrifice (Jesus) he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.” Hebrews 10:11-18 Do you see? God looks at our hearts. Is He looking at yours? Forgiveness is needed when a union that has been broken. It's just the ways of God. Can you imagine a marriage where the husband so loved his wife, that he would always put her first? A marriage where the wife submitted to the husband’s love, and would always be satisfied with everything he does. Can you imagine a marriage where patience and kindness and humility always exist? To love a partner who never boasted, or used sarcasm? Can you imagine a marriage where two become One flesh? A marriage that has no beginning and no end? This my friend, does not exist between humans, At least not on their own accord. This type of marriage is only obtained through a heart that loves the Lord - A marriage that is made of three cords.
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