If you were with us yesterday during the sermon you know that we discussed Matthew 5: 31-37, the passages on divorce and oaths. Both of these topics are full of emotion and can be very difficult to get through. But, it was and is my prayer that for all of us, no matter how difficult the word of God can be to accept we would be humble enough to know that what he says is for our best and that when we need to experience his grace we would lean hard into him so that he may redeem and renew us.
Growing up I didn't think much about divorce. It wasn't something that my friends' parents were going through, no one in my family had been divorced and no one that I knew of in our church went through a divorce. But, when I was nearing the end of college divorce made it's presence know. And, not just subtly put over and over again. So today I have seen more divorce and the effects of it than I had ever thought I would see. There were a number of families that I grew up with that were divorced, two sets of my aunts and uncles divorced, my brother experienced a divorce, a few of my close friends went through divorces and then there have been a number of marriages within the churches I have pastored that have fallen apart. And there has been a lot of pain involved.
But, what I have also come to see is the amazing redemptive work that God has been able to carry out in those families and lives of individuals who went through the difficulty of divorce. And in those cases where the individuals from a divorce are willing to go through the forgiveness and healing process that God will perform in our lives (in the midst of any sin, if we allow him) he creates and does something new within those lives.
What I find so important is that for those of us witnessing the situation from a distance, whether close or far off, there can be times when we need to experience the grace of God as well. While no divorce is a one sided event, for those of us watching there will almost always be one in the situation whom we side with and one whom we villanize. In doing this the forgiveness which God gives to people often times comes much slower from his people to those who need forgiveness. It is important that as the people of God when someone seeks and finds forgiveness from God, no matter how difficult their choices have been on us or if we have been hurt in the situation, we are obligated to offer forgiveness and grace just as Christ has offered it.
Marriage has been God's plan from the very beginning. The mystery of how he ties two lives into one is beautiful! And the bottom line from scripture is that God desires to uphold those marriage relationships, he desires to prosper those commitments and work in beautiful ways within the husband and wife. There are many passages of scripture where we can read of God's intent for marriage and the pain which a breaking of the marriage covenant creates. Passages like Malachi 2; Matt. 19:3-12; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor. 7:1-16 help us to get a picture of God's great concern for marriage and deep impact that the breaking of marriage creates.
With that said, we also understand his incredible grace which meets us when we live below his standards. And this grace which never gives us liberty to sin, it meets the contrite and offers great redemption and love. And this pertains to all areas of life, which I for one am extremely grateful, for without it I would be lost!
Like I ended the sermon yesterday: If you have experienced divorce in your life may you know the deep and abiding forgiveness that God gives. May you cling to his promise of making you new and working out this newness in your life. May you live in victory because of the grace of God. If you are in a marriage now, realize the great gift God has given to you and your spouse. Fight for your marriage no matter what. Become the person God wants you to be with that marriage so that you may bless your spouse. And if you will one day be married understand now the great blessing and responsibility which you are looking forward to and become the person worth marrying even now.
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