Husband and Wife: Keep God in Your Marriage

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7: 27

Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.

Scripture Commentary: Men, a wife won’t solve your problems. Likewise to women, a husband won’t solve yours.

Many people naively think that marriage will solve their problems. Here are some problems marriage won’t solve: loneliness, sexual (and other) temptations, satisfaction of one’s deep emotional needs, and elimination of life’s difficulties.

Marriage alone does not hold two people together. Commitment does – commitment to Christ and to each other despite conflicts and problems. As wonderful as marriage is, it does not automatically solve everything.

Whether married or single, we must be content with our situation and focus on a relationship with Christ before we can pursue a successful relationship with others.

Paul urges believers not to regard marriage, home, or financial security as the ultimate goals in life. As much as possible, we should live unhindered by the cares of this world, such as burdensome mortgages, budgets, investments, or debts that might keep us from doing God’s work.

A married man or woman must take care of earthly responsibilities, but they should make every effort to keep them modest and manageable. Keep Jesus in your marriage. God bless you both.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Corinthians Chapter 7

The Conclusion is to Know God

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12: 12-14

And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Scripture Commentary: No matter what happens in life, the final conclusion is to recognize God as first in your life

These final three verses of Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 tell us that no matter what the mysteries and apparent contradictions of life, the final conclusion is that we must aim to know God.

Solomon shows us that we should enjoy life, but this does not exempt us from obeying God’s commandments. We should acknowledge the evil, foolish, and unjust parts of life, yet maintain our faith in God. Oftentimes we see our human endeavors as not for God, but for ourselves.

One day all of us will stand before God and be judged for what we did in this life. What will you say during your judgment? Remember this, you cannot use life’s inconsistencies as an excuse for not living as God mandated.

God is first in your life. Recognize that human effort apart from God is futile, not Godly. Everything good is a gift from God. Realize that God will judge the quality of your life; He will judge both the good and the evil.

How strange that people that do not know God spend their lives striving for the enjoyment of life that God gave freely as a gift.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 12

Let Christ Set You Free

For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sin, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Romans 7: 5-6

Commentary:

Sinners are condemned by the law, the law keeper can’t live up to it, and the person with the new nature finds his or her obedience to the law sabotaged by the effects of the old nature. When a person dies to the old life and belongs to Christ, a new life begins. Unbeliever’s mindsets are centered on their own personal gratification. Those who don’t follow Christ have only their own self determination as their source of power.

People try to earn their way to God by keeping a set of rules, attending church, doing good deeds, and obeying commandments. All they earn for their efforts is frustration and discouragement. Keeping the rules, laws, and customs of Christianity doesn’t save us. Jesus Christ will free you to serve him out of love and gratitude. Christ’s love will truly set you free, from merely any external code. We now serve not by obeying a set of rules, but out of love for God. Let the reality of Christ’s power lift you up to real victory over sin. Christ who has conquered sin, promises to fight by our side.

Use God’s Gifts to You

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding. Then shall thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2: 1,2,5

Commentary:

To know God is to seek Him. We don’t seek Him only when we need his help, we seek God because we want to be with him. God has given us the gift of wisdom, but we have the choice of how we use it. If we are rebellious and foolish, it will take a great effort on our part to find and use. When we are on the path, we discover that true wisdom is in God and that he will guide us and reward our sincere and persistent search.

God gives us wisdom and victory, but not for drifting through life or acting irresponsible with his gifts and resources. If you do not use your gifts that God gave you, then you lose them, and Satan begins to work on you to become one of his workers. If we are faithful and keep his purpose in life, God will keep us from the things that will lead us astray. We gain wisdom through a constant process of growing. By studying the Word of God we are better to evaluate courses of action and consequences. We are the children of God and he has given us His gift. Use it for his glorification.

The Holy Spirit Will Guide You to Understanding

“In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

John 16: 16-18

Commentary:

Jesus was referring to his death, now only a few hours away, and his resurrection three days later. What a contrast between the disciples and the world! The world rejoiced as the disciples wept, but the disciples would see him again (in three days) and rejoice. The world’s values are often the opposite of God’s values. This can cause Christians to feel like misfits, as some may feel today. Remember, until Jesus died and was raised from the dead, we did not have direct access to God the Father. The disciples didn’t fully understand the promise Jesus made until the Holy Spirit came after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Then the Holy Spirit revealed truths to the disciples that they wrote down in the books that now form the New Testament.

In the New Testament it is the Holy Spirit guiding us in the truth about Jesus Christ. The Spirit also helps us through patient practice to discern right from wrong. Christ’s death made a personal relationship with God possible.

Are You Confirming Scripture or Conforming it?

Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly – and indeed you do bear with me. As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11: 1, 10-14

Commentary:

First get your Bible and read chapter 11 entirely. In this chapter Paul felt foolish rehearsing his credentials as a preacher of the gospel. The Corinthians, like some of us today, fall for smooth talk and messages that sounded good and seemed to make sense. We have with us today great eloquent speakers with an authoritative sounding voice who contradict God’s word. Beware! Satan and his servants can deceive us by appearing to be attractive, good, and moral. Many unsuspecting people follow smooth talking, Bible quoting, leaders into false worship. Don’t be fooled by external appearances.

Our impressions alone are not an accurate indicator of who is or isn’t a true follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ask questions of yourself, like does the speaker confirm scripture or conform scripture? Does he or she proclaim that Jesus Christ Messiah came into the world to save us from sin, died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day and ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God, His Father, and will come and judge us. A false teacher teaches for his own glory, not the glory of God.

Let God Help You Make Decisions

Do not be wise in your own eyes

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

Proverbs 3: 7

Commentary:

Leaning has the sense of putting your whole weight on something, resting on and trusting in that person or thing. When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can’t trust anyone, not even God. But God knows what is best for us. He is a better judge of what we want than even we are! We must trust him completely in every choice we make. We should not omit careful thinking or belittle our God-given ability to reason; but we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others.

We must not be wise in our own eyes. We should always be willing to listen to and be corrected by God’s word and wise counseling. Bring your decisions to God in prayer; use the Bible as your guide; and then follow God’s lead. He will make your paths straight by both guiding and protecting you. To receive God’s guidance said Solomon, we must acknowledge God in all our ways. This means turning every area of life over to him. Look at your values and priorities. What is important to you? In what areas have you not acknowledged him? What is his advice? In many areas of your life you may already acknowledge God, but it is in the areas where you attempt to restrict or ignore his influence that will cause you grief. Make him a vital part of everything you do; then he will guide you because you will be working to accomplish his purposes. Take self out of what you are thinking or doing and let the Holy Spirit guide, then and only then can the glory of what is being done can be for the glorification of God.

God Never Abandons

Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4: 14, 17, 18

Commentary:

“For we walk by faith, not by sight,” 2 Corinthians 5: 7.

We have not seen Jesus, but we know he lives. We feel the wind, but we do not know where it comes from. The disciples had Jesus with them and at times even they didn’t understand. When we go through this life with all the ups and downs, at times we ask why. Paul reminds us that though we may think we are at the end of the rope, we are never at the end of hope. Our perishable bodies are subject to sin and suffering, but God never abandons us. All our risks, humiliations, and trials are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate his power and presence in and through us. No matter what happens to us in this life, we have the assurance of eternal life, when all suffering will end and all sorrow will flee away. (Isaiah 35: 10)

God the Creator

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100: 1-5

Commentary:

God is our creator; we did not create ourselves. Many people live as though they are the creator and the center of their own little world. This mindset leads to greedy possessiveness and, if everything should be taken away, a loss of hope itself. But when we realize God created us and gives us all we have, we will want to give to others as God gave to us. Then, if all is lost, we still have God and all he gives us. God alone is worthy of being worshiped. Do you willingly and joyfully come into God’s presence, or are you just going through the motions? This psalm tells us to remember God’s goodness and dependability, and then to worship with thanksgiving and praise. So go and shout a loud joyful cry to our Lord and spread the word of Jesus Christ through the land.

The Power of the Tongue

Scripture: James 3: 1-7

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider that a great forest is set on fire by a spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison.

Scripture Commentary

What you say and what you don’t say are both important. Proper speech is not only saying the right words at the right time. But it is also controlling your desire to say what you shouldn’t. Before you speak, ask, “Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?”