Embrace the Within no. 130

“It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife is to give her a certificate of divorce’; but I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except on grounds of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who has been divorced commits adultery.

Matthew 5:31-32 AMP

From the very beginning of humanity, man joined with woman forever in the presence of God. When I entered into a covenant with God and my wife, I needed to enter into that covenant with the understanding that I did not set the terms, she did not set the terms, God set the terms. And I think that understanding of who sets the rules in our lives is extremely important to understand. And I think that allowance of folks that don’t understand the terms of the covenant to enter into a holy covenant is a problem.

“It has been said, ‘Whoever divorces [In this verse and in v. 32 the Greek word for divorce (apolyo) can also mean “to loose,” “to dismiss,” “to send away”] his wife must give her legal divorce papers’ [See Deut. 24:1. By serving her divorce papers, a husband was required to return his wife’s dowry. The divorced woman would then leave his house and receive back her dowry]. However, I say to you, if anyone divorces his wife for any reason, except for infidelity, he causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced [The Aramaic can be translated “whoever marries a woman who is separated and not divorced”] woman commits adultery.” Matthew 5:31-32 TPT

A covenant with God is a serious matter and I don’t think I truly understood covenants even when I entered into marriage. I knew that I was never going to leave my wife. I knew that marriage was for whatever happened in life. I knew that marriage was with rough times and problems and disagreements and all sorts of problems that could come my way. I also had an example of what marriage that was based on commitment was like.

Marriage is a covenant with God. Discipleship is a covenant with God. As an ambassador of His Kingdom, I need to respect that these covenants are not something I get to amend, redact, or rewrite. Covenants are written by Him.

'It hath bene sayd also, Whosoeuer shall put away his wife, let him giue her a bill of diuorcement. But I say vnto you, whosoeuer shall put away his wife (except it be for fornication) causeth her to commit adulterie: and whosoeuer shall marrie her that is diuorced, committeth adulterie. '

Matthew 5:31-32 GNV

Covenants are not something to take lightly. And for years I was quite lackadaisical about my covenant with God. And quite often I was lackadaisical about my covenant with God and my wife. I took those relationships for granted. I think it’s easy to get comfortable with a relationship when you are around someone, even God, for a long time. I got comfortable with how things were going with God and my wife and it took a plague to shake things up for me. The plague shook a lot of things up for me.

“Again Yeshua [God is Salvation] said to his disciples: ‘You have heard what was said to those of long ago that everyone who leaves his wife and divorces her is to give her a bill of divorce, And I say to you that everyone who leaves his wife is to give her a bill of divorce. But concerning adultery. he is the one who commits adultery and he who takes her commits adultery’.”

Matthew 5:31-32 NMV

If I continue to give things a cursory understanding, if I continue to be comfortable in my relationships, if I fail to see the importance of who is in control, then I will fall short of what I need to accomplish. Comfort is not crouching at the door. Comfort is always right next to me. I can get comfortable with how things are going or I can strive to work. And too often I chose to coast, to cruise, to drift.

BUT choosing to be actively engaged in my relationships has made all the difference. And putting Christ in control and letting God be in charge is not only a great place to start, it is the only place to start in order to end with success.

'“It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a get .’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of fornication, makes her an adulteress; and that anyone who marries a divorcee commits adultery.'

Mattityahu (Mat) 5:31-32

I pray that I am always mindful of my covenants with the Lord. I pray that I am serious in my decisions to allow God to write the rules and be confident in my role as an obedient servant to those rules. I pray that when I fail to live up to His expectations of any covenant, that I allow Him to show me the way to becoming a better image bearer. I pray that He reflects in my decisions in all my interactions.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH