The Marriage Covenant

The Marriage Covenant "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them." Colossians 3:18-19 Each day I receive numerous e-mails from my readers concerning relationship issues they are having with their husbands or wives, and asking me to give them some advice. This is a difficult task as there are so many things that can have an effect on the relationship between a husband and wife, and it is very hard to know what truly is going on in the family. There is much wisdom to be found in our Bible that tells us how the family should function, and the roles both the husband and the wife should play. One of the primary reasons for the breakdown in the home is that we have forgotten God's command about marriage. God gave marriage to us, and His standards have not changed. Jesus said, "A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife." Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." Matthew 19:5-6. Divorce was not part of God's original design--nor is it now. Marriage is a symbol of the unity between Christ and His church--a unity that should never be torn or broken. There is no marriage that is beyond repair with God's help, but each party must humble themselves and put aside their pride and their self will. They must learn to put the other before themselves. If divorce has happened to you, God can forgive the past, heal the present, and give you hope for the future, if you ask Jesus into your heart. If you are married, but having difficulties, turn them over to God. Make God first in your family, pray together, and study God's word together. You will find that God can heal any situation, as you turn your marriage over to Christ. My Daily Devotional Volume Six July 15 Robert William Brock, Jr.