October 14 – LD 41, Day 7: Marriage Restored by Christ

Ephesians 5:31-32: “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

Because our marriages are all affected by sin, we must repeatedly be called before the mirror of God’s Word, to repentance and a sanctified walk. It is imperative that we walk godly as husbands and as wives. It is imperative as young people that we see marriage in the light of Scripture, and preserve ourselves with a view to that holy state. It is imperative as a church that we uphold the holiness of marriage in our opposition to divorce and remarriage. We must walk in the light of God’s Word, even if we have to do so alone!

But as we leave this subject, we must also notice God’s wonderful preservation of this sanctified bond. The sanctity of marriage has been restored by Christ. Having redeemed us as His precious Bride, Christ has given us the motivation to honor marriage. That motivation does not come from the terrible consequences of violating the seventh commandment. Rather, because of our intimate fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, we would not offend Him, but would live as before His face, to glorify and praise Him whether in marriage or single life. So with Joseph, we flee temptation, saying, “how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9b) God hates all impurity. Because He is my Redeemer and my Friend, I hate all impurity too. Is that your confession?

We say this because our bodies as well as our souls have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. We are not our own, but belong unto our faithful Savior Jesus Christ. You do, don’t you? Therefore we serve not ourselves, but we walk according to our Lord’s will. By that blessed gift of holy marriage, we see God gathering His Church and giving us a reflection of that unbreakable, holy bond — His own covenant love embracing us as His bride. “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” May we preserve the purity of that mystery as reflected in our own marriages, and those of our brothers and sisters in Christ.