Thursday after Lent 1

Wooden Cross with Red Cloth2 Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife. 3 And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” 5 But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 7 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, 8 and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” 10 In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again. 11 And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; 12 and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.” ~ Mark 10:2-12 (NASB)

Divorce has become an acceptable sin. Jesus’ words remind us that God created marriage as a sacred institution in which a husband and wife become one. Divorce tears apart His holy creation. Almost equally acceptable in today’s society is sexual relations outside of marriage. Couples “live together” without benefit of matrimony, and we look away. Couples other than one man and one woman demand the right to marry. Yet in God’s holy eyes, all sin is abominable. He does not give us permission to ignore any of His Word. We don’t get to choose which laws to obey and which to break. God requires total obedience. Praise and glory to Him that on the many occasions we fall short, He is faithful to forgive us if we sincerely repent. The Blood of Jesus wipes away all our iniquity and imputes the righteousness of Jesus to us.

Thank You, Lord, for Your grace, Your mercy, and Your love for each one of Your sinful, rebellious children. Do not let me take advantage of Your grace, Lord. Guide me in Your righteous paths so I do Your will. When I do go astray, let me never excuse my sin or congratulate myself that what I have done is only a small sin, not nearly as bad as those sins committed by other people. Give me a repentant and grateful heart when I miss the mark, no matter how small. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/Jordache

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