Thursday, February 22, 2024
Didn't the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.
Malachi uses the language of entering into a covenant as he talks about marriage. When we marry, we enter into a covenant with the person we marry and with God. [1] Our ultimate loyalty is to God and honoring God in how we treat our spouse. [2] God makes us one as husband and wife. Each of us belongs to the other, and we each belong to God: " In body and spirit, you are his," Malachi reminds us. For godliness to come from our union, each person in this covenant commits to living to show love and give honor to the other.
In a fallen and broken world, a world where Satan looks to steal, destroy, and kill relationships, [3] Malachi reminds us that we must firmly commit to three things:
How vital are these principles that Malachi gives us? Notice how Malachi finishes his thoughts on this crucial covenant:
"For I hate divorce!" says the Lord, the God of Israel. "To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. "So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife." [6]
In a world of throwaway commitments, God reminds us that our commitment isn't just with another person; it is also a covenant with Him. There are no throwaway commitments for God because there are no throwaway people!
O God, "the Lord of Heaven's Armies," [A] I come to you asking for Your power and grace to love and honor the special people You have brought into my life with pure, holy, and faithful love so I can keep my covenant to You and be a lasting blessing to those I love. In Jesus' name, I pray this. Amen.
Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.
'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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