Daily Devotional for Tuesday August 5, 2003

Marriage is God's idea, not man's

(Genesis 2:24)

Marriage is God's idea, not man's. God's plan for marriage is summed up this way, one man, one woman, one lifetime. Let me encourage those of you who have not been married and are still waiting on God's perfect timing for your lifetime mate. This is the plan God has for a man and woman as set forth in the Bible. It is not even debatable to talk about any other kind of relationship because God clearly lays out HIS plan in the Word, and anything else is a perversion of that plan! Based on the divorce rate and percentage of people who engage in premarital sex, one man, one woman, one lifetime, may seem unrealistic in today's society.

However, the perversion of God's plan for marriage is evident throughout history, and detailed in the Bible from the Old through the New Testaments. That perversion DOES NOT make God's plan any less true. As a matter of fact, it is only in following God's plan that it really works. One man, one woman, one lifetime, means no divorce. The family and our society has been greatly damaged by the ever increasing divorce rate from the mid-60's through today. One man, one woman, one lifetime, means you don't engage in premarital sex. For those moments of pleasure, the pain and consequences are evident in broken and scarred lives. One man, one woman, one lifetime, works because this is how God designed it, with the best interest of His children in mind.

Let me take a second to address those who have not been able to follow God's plan. Many who read this devotional have already been through divorce in their life. Many have already had multiple sexual partners. In many cases, all of this happened before you came to know Christ as your personal Savior. Does this mean you should give up? No! What this does mean though is that from this point forward, you should try to follow God's plan. It is the only way you will be in His will and able to know the fullness of His blessings in your life.

What you have done in your past is behind you. You can't change that. You need to take some time to repent and ask God's forgiveness, to heal, and then move forward in your life. God said in His Word that if we confess our sins, He will forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. That is His promise. Seek His forgiveness and move on.

Many reading this today will dismiss these words as nice but not realistic. That is straight from the pits of hell itself. It is VERY realistic. The world has perverted God's plan for marriage too long, and it is time to tell people the truth. It works God's way, it will never work any other way. This Devotional today is a warning to those yet unmarried, those yet who can still follow God's plan for marriage in their life. If you don't believe God, talk to someone who has been through a divorce. Talk to those who have had multiple intimate relationships. Let them tell you firsthand the pain, heartache and consequences. Then talk to those who have listened faithfully to God. Those who have followed His plan of one man, one woman, one lifetime.

This devotional is also meant to encourage those who have failed to now follow God's plan in their life. It is not too late. God loves you, and while you will always have to deal with the consequences of your past actions, you can do it God's way from here on out. The Bible talks about having a life of abundance. My friend, that life is only possible when you follow God's plan in all areas of your life, including His plan for marriage.

I love you and care about you deeply. I will be praying today that these words will find a fertile resting place in your heart. It should be a challenge to you. When you pray, ask God for the wisdom and strength to live according to His plan for your life. God will honor your commitment to Him. Let your life be a living testimony to this lost and sin-filled world that there is a better way. The greatest testimony you have is not the things you say, but how you live. Let those around you notice how different your life is, how better your life is, because you have chosen to follow God and God's plan!

In His love and service, Your friend and brother, Bill Keller