‘As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.’ Proverbs 27:17(NLT)
‘For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ‘ Jeremiah 29:11(NLT)
‘Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?” “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked. Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. ‘ Matthew 19:3-8(NLT)
‘But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.’ 1 John 4:8(NLT)
‘If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? ‘ 1 John 4:20(NLT)
‘Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. ‘ Galatians 6:7-9(NLT)
When you exchange rings and vows and enter into the covenant of marriage, you’re dedicating yourself to love “until death do us part.” But what happens when the love runs dry? What happens if only one of you chooses to read this Bible plan? What do you do when the worst happens, and those vows are shattered by unfaithfulness? Whatever you’re facing, even if it could be grounds for divorce, that means it can also be grounds for forgiveness.
Marriage is one of the toughest ways that we can see the proverb “iron sharpens iron” play out. No matter what fault you find in your spouse, the truth is, there are always ways that you need to grow and develop, too. If that wedding band starts to feel more like a handcuff, then you have a decision to make: you can decide to forgive what seems unforgivable. You can decide to extend the grace that God gave you to your spouse. You can decide to own up to your mistakes. When your car runs out of gas, you don’t sell it. You put more gas in! Let God love through you. And never give up.
Let’s pray together: Jesus, when I feel like I don’t have any love left to give, help me to love with Your love. Help me to keep the vows I made to You, even when I no longer feel them. Help me give the same grace You’ve given me. And be my strength on the days when I want to give up. I trust that You’re big enough to hold us together. In Your Name we pray, amen.
from From This Day Forward by Craig & Amy Groeschel