3. Marriage Devotional: Marriage, Commitment for Life

Marriage Devotional: Marriage, Commitment for Life

Author: Warren W. Wiersbe (1929-2019)

    It is God's will that the marriage union be permanent, a lifetime commitment. There is no place in Christian marriage for a “trial marriage”, nor is there any room for the “escape-hatch” attitude: “If the marriage doesn't work, we can always get a divorce”.

    For this reason, marriage must be built on something sturdier than good looks, money, romantic excitement, and social acceptance. There must be Christian commitment, character, and maturity. There must be a willingness to grow, to learn from each other, to forgive and forget, to minister to one another. The kind of love Paul described in 1 Corinthians 13 is what is needed to cement two lives together.

    God has put “walls” around marriage, not to make it a prison, but to make it a safe fortress. The person who considers marriage a prison should not get married. When two people are lovingly and joyfully committed to each other - and to their Lord - the experience of marriage is one of enrichment and enlargement. They grow together and discover the richness of serving the Lord as a team in their home and church.

Read: Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:1-3.

Action assignment: Ask God to help you toward a greater grasp of the biblical view of marriage and not let your philosophy be tainted by the modern, worldly view.

2. Devotional: The Never-Failing God

The Never-Failing God

Author: Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)

    What line does my thought take? Does it turn to what God says or to what I fear? Am I learning to say not what God says, but to say something after I have heard what He says? "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

    "I will in no wise fail thee"—not for all my sin and selfishness and stubbornness and waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never fail me? If I have listened to this say-so of God’s, then let me listen again.

    "Neither will I in any wise forsake thee." Sometimes it is not difficulty that makes me think God will forsake me, but drudgery. There is no Hill Difficulty to climb, no vision given, nothing wonderful or beautiful, just the commonplace day in and day out—can I hear God’s say-so in these things?

    We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing, that He is preparing and fitting us for some extraordinary thing by and by, but as we go on in grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute. If we have God’s say-so behind us, the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways.

1. Hymn: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Hymn: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Author: Helen H. Lemmel (1863-1961)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
    No light in the darkness you see?
    There’s light for a look at the Savior,
    And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face;

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

2. Through death into life everlasting
    He passed, and we follow Him there;
    Over us sin no more hath dominion–
    For more than conqu‵rors we are!

3. His Word shall not fail you–He promised;
    Believe Him and all will be well:
    Then go to a world that is dying,
    His perfect salvation to tell!