Marriage - What's Going On?

August 2, 2021

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there. The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" (Matthew 19:1-3).

The dynamics of the fall of mankind in Eden are replicated in multiplied millions of households today. Adam did not listen to God, his Lord. Eve did not listen to Adam, her husband. Adam and Eve were not in constant communication with each other. Adam was not with Eve to protect her from Satan. Eve strayed away from Adam’s protection and was alone when she faced Satan. Lack of communication. Forfeiture of responsibility. Abandonment of relationship. Elevation of personal desire over divine mandate.

Since Eden, men and women have fought to take control over their individual lives, situations, relationships, and families, and have abused each one because they are fallen creatures. Personal desires have led them in the struggle for domination, in an ungodly way, in everything they associate with. Men, women, boys, and girls all fall victim to the power struggle that began after the fall in Eden. Look around you. Listen to people. Read the reviews. Humanity is destroying itself because the authority of God in men and women, husbands and wives, parents and children, has been rejected - utterly rejected.

For the most part, men and women are no longer loving, supportive, and selfless. They are domineering and selfish or dominated and emasculated. No wonder there is alienation, abuse, abandonment (physically and emotionally) in far too many households. No wonder living together outside of marriage, or experiencing divorce from marriage, are easy and preferred options today.

Through the power and influence of the Holy Spirit, God expects His people in Christ Jesus to exemplify His original plan for marriage and home-life. Man has changed God’s plan - God has not. I am the LORD, I do not change (Malachi 3:6). Three vital ingredients are necessary for a successful marriage and a loving, supportive, stable, protective, providing home-life: (1) submission to the Holy Spirit and to each other, (2) self-denial, and (3) self-giving (Ephesians 5:1-33).

“Father, bring us back to Your plan for life and living. Far too long we have embraced fallen man’s ideas of success and well-being in life. It has failed in every generation and has brought us to the edge of the cliff today. All the godless aberrations in human life that You have abhorred and condemned are accepted and embraced today. Sodom and Gomorrah have become the ultimate examples of what is desired in our society today. Surely we are a doomed people. Be gracious and merciful to us and redeem us as a people for Your good pleasure. In Jesus’ name I ask, Amen.”

Pastor

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