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Fight for Your Marriage (4)
'They will be won over by observing your...lives.' 1 Peter 3:1-2 NLT
Shared faith is glue that will hold your marriage together in times of trouble. But when one spouse is an unbeliever, it can be difficult for the other. Concerning marriage, Jesus said, ‘What God has joined together, let not man separate.’ (Matthew 19:6 NKJV) Notice the words, ‘What God has joined together.’ Any relationship God puts together can go the distance.
Speaking about a wife whose husband has died, Paul writes, ‘She is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord.’ (1 Corinthians 7:39 NLT) When your spouse doesn't share your faith, you can find yourselves tugging on opposite ends of the rope. Paul asks, ‘How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?’ (2 Corinthians 6:15 NLT)
The old country preacher put it bluntly: ‘Any time a child of God marries a child of the devil, they’re going to have trouble with their father–in–law!’ That doesn't mean you should love your unbelieving partner less. Actually, it means you should love them more!
Speaking of unbelieving spouses, Peter writes, ‘Even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your…lives.’ There’s preventative medicine and corrective medicine.
When Paul says not to marry an unbeliever, he’s using preventative medicine. When Peter speaks of living with an unbeliever and winning them to Christ through your love and lifestyle, he’s using corrective medicine. At the end of the day, only one thing is guaranteed to work: ‘Love never fails.’ (1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV) So fight for your marriage!
written by Bob Gass
'They will be won over by observing your...lives.' 1 Peter 3:1-2 NLT
Shared faith is glue that will hold your marriage together in times of trouble. But when one spouse is an unbeliever, it can be difficult for the other. Concerning marriage, Jesus said, ‘What God has joined together, let not man separate.’ (Matthew 19:6 NKJV) Notice the words, ‘What God has joined together.’ Any relationship God puts together can go the distance.
Speaking about a wife whose husband has died, Paul writes, ‘She is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord.’ (1 Corinthians 7:39 NLT) When your spouse doesn't share your faith, you can find yourselves tugging on opposite ends of the rope. Paul asks, ‘How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?’ (2 Corinthians 6:15 NLT)
The old country preacher put it bluntly: ‘Any time a child of God marries a child of the devil, they’re going to have trouble with their father–in–law!’ That doesn't mean you should love your unbelieving partner less. Actually, it means you should love them more!
Speaking of unbelieving spouses, Peter writes, ‘Even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your…lives.’ There’s preventative medicine and corrective medicine.
When Paul says not to marry an unbeliever, he’s using preventative medicine. When Peter speaks of living with an unbeliever and winning them to Christ through your love and lifestyle, he’s using corrective medicine. At the end of the day, only one thing is guaranteed to work: ‘Love never fails.’ (1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV) So fight for your marriage!
written by Bob Gass
