Matthew 19:1-15

Matthew 19:1-15 (New International Version)

 ¹When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. ²Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

 ³Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"

 ⁴"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' ⁵and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? ⁶So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

 ⁷"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"

 ⁸Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.⁹I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

 ¹⁰The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry."

 ¹¹Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. ¹²For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

 ¹³Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

 ¹⁴Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." ¹⁵When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

 Devotional (by Chris Bunch)

Each summer I officiate or attend several weddings.  This summer there are five on my calendar.  The day of the wedding both the bride and groom will make a life long commitment to each other, and they will mean it.  However, for me the bigger question I have is:  Will you make a life long commitment with God to spend your entire earthly life serving him and serving your spouse?  

Every divorced person in The Jar that I have ever had the opportunity to spend quality time with has admitted to me that when you boil it down the reason for their divorce was either God wasn’t central to that relationship on their wedding day or as a couple they drifted away from God.  The key to having a “whole” marriage is not “I am in love with you,” but “I am loyal to God and to you.”  

I will be married 15 years on July 23.  It has not been a perfect relationship.  In fact, Jen and I have hurt each other more in the past 15 years than any other person in our lives.  And yet, God was central in our dating, engagement, honeymoon years, and years 10-15.  We have learned to forgive, sacrifice, love, and most of all remain loyal even when we didn’t feel like it.  Because there was a commitment we made that was bigger than marriage-----and that was our commitment to God.

If you have gone through a divorce, God loves you, he forgives you, and you are just as precious in his sight as any married person of 75 years.  Accept his unwavering love and make a commitment to him-----that if you get married again He will be at the center from day one.  If you are married, renew your vow to God today to stay loyal to him and your spouse.  You might even want to renew your vows.  It might seem goofy, but it is a powerful thing to do.  Jen and I will be doing it ourselves.

Here are some you could use:   ______________________ (name of your spouse),  I love you and I am so proud to be your husband/wife.  I promise to consider your interests, and not merely my own.

I promise to show you love, patience, kindness, goodness, affection, faithfulness, and self-control.  I promise to communicate with you, as openly and honestly as I can, 

I will share with you my life, feelings, hopes, joys, frustrations, disappointments, anxieties, and dreams;  and I will listen, as you share with me.

I will try to meet your needs, and respect your individuality, as well as my own.  I will work with you, to build a lasting relationship, of love and commitment.  I give myself freely to you ______________ (name of spouse)  for as long as we both shall live.

Finally, if you are single you are probably at one of two places with your singleness.  Some of you hate being single and you wish there was a special someone that you could spend your entire life with.  You hate the lonely nights and lonely Sunday mornings at church, sometimes you are tempted to compromise your Christian values.  Stay strong, don’t give up, trust God.  God has someone in mind for you---but it probably won’t be on your timetable.  (I realize it is easy for me to say because I am married-----but I really do believe this.)

Second, some of you are single and you are content with your singleness.  You have lonely moments as well----but it does not consume you because you have decided to stay single.  Jesus lived this type of life, and in doing so he had the time and freedom to serve God more than any married person.  God is proud of you and ready to use you in a mighty way.  Prayerfully consider what that way may be.

Loyalty and love to God is the key to a healthy life.  Whether you are married, divorced, single by circumstances or single by choice live a life of love and loyalty to God and he will not disappoint.  Jesus put it this way:  The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.  (Matthew 6:33)

Prayer: 
God, thank you for the gift of relationships.  I thank you most of all for the relationship with your one only son, Jesus Christ.  Help me to have a heart like yours in all the relationships in my life.  In Jesus name.  Amen