On Divorce and Re-Marriage

Many today would be surprised if you told them that divorce is, in fact, a very American phenomenon. When divorce is not an option, the two people are more likely to move heaven and earth to work a situation out. Because divorce has become such an easy thing to do for trifle reasons, then it is the first thing people resort to when they are disillusioned with the circumstances in their marriage.

God is very clear about how strongly He hates divorce. Divorce has never been part of God’s plan for marriage. Mathew 19:7-8, “They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away. He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.”
Marriage is a covenant made with the determination to remain together until Jesus returns or one of the two parties dies. Marriage is a covenant, not a contract. A contract is based on lack of trust, but a covenant is based on full trust. A contract can easily be dissolved if at any given moment, things are not convenient for the man or the woman. The marriage covenant cannot be dissolved because Biblically speaking the covenant makes the husband and wife one—in spirit, soul, and body. It is within this unity, that family is established with identity and a sense of security.

Malachi 2:14-16, “Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.”

God gave every person three privileges or inalienable rights—the right to life, the right to liberty, and the right to property. God is the one who gives life and no one has the right to take it away except civil authorities. To them he gave authority to put to death those who violate God’s law. If the circumstances of a marriage are some type of abuse or aggression, this is a violation to the God-given right to life. In this case, a temporal separation might be necessary, knowing that God can work to change their hearts during that period of time.

I recently went to the wedding of one of my best friends and college roommates. On the way to the wedding rehearsal, I was in the car with her grandmother—quite an extraordinary lady. She has been married for 67 years. She told me beaming, “The other day a young man asked me. ‘What does it take to be married for 67 years?” I echoed that question and said, “Yeah what does it take to be married for 67 years?”

In her grandmotherly voice she said, “Well at the moment I had never pondered that question, you know. It just, never crossed my mind. But nevertheless as I thought about it, I realized that through the good times and the bad, through the rough times and the smooth times, one thing remained certain, divorce was never an option. Today young people are as quick to get out of a marriage as they are to change their socks. They have all kinds of excuses: the romance was gone; he turned out being different than the man I married; even infidelity. But there is nothing that God can’t work with. There is nothing too hard for Him.” That’s sage advice.
Grandma Smith is not the only person who has told me that. Choosing divorce as the solution to a problem is to take the matter in our own hands and say, “God, this one is definitely too hard for You, I will take matters into my own hands and resolve it.”

I will boast in the Lord my God...

I'm sitting here at the Dallas airport waiting for my flight back to Mexico. (This is the layover from Kentucky). I'm watching people and just noticing the general despair on the faces of the people around me. The things they glory in. Men, their money, women, their material possessions. The problem is, I used to be the exact same way. My glory was in myself. My boast was in my things. Clothes, accessories, beauty, gain, popularity, reputation, position, posessions.

But the deeper I press into Jesus, teh more I savor His kindness and gentleness, the further I walk alonside Him, the more I realize that He is more worthy of my praise than Cosmo magazine, than clothes and accessories, than shoes and friends, than beauty and popularity, than music and reputation. he is FAR more worthy of my lifestyle worship and adoration, than all the beast this world has to offer.

How could I have ever boasted in the things I did before? God is patiently purifying my heart and sanctifying me. The song that will forever and all eternity be on my lips will be gratefulness for His faithfulness and mercy to me every day of my life. I have literally been singing all day long. In the airport and in the plane, humming a tune to precious Savior. There is a renewed joy that fills my soul, no plane cancelation or hours of airport bonding time can take away that joy. It just doesn't even matter anymore.

Spending this week at the New Attitude conference in Kentucky was the greatest investment of $$ and 4 days I could have ever made. I've come back so renewed and afresh in love with my Jesus, and with a new resolve to study His word and "esteem the words of his mouth, more than my necessary food" as Job said.

I'm going to set aside time every morning to read, deeply study, memorize, and meditate on God's Holy Word until it is emblazoned on my heart. Sealed in such a way that it will be my waking thought. My meditation all the day. My song in the night. My weapon in the fight. My refuge in sorrow. My wisdom in confusion. My delight. My joy. My Supreme Treasure. Thank you Jesus for reviving my heart. Thank you for saving me. Forgiving me. Answering my prayers. Healing my wounds; my sickness; my infirmities. Restoring my soul. Redeeming me. Justifying me. Sanctifying me. Seating me at your table. Trading my rags for royal robes. My filth for cleanness. My sorrow for gladness. Weakness for strength. Peace for turmoil. Hatred for love.