Your Daily Devotional for August 18, 2007

 

August 18,  2007

 

 

God's Purpose for Marriage

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"Thou shalt not commit adultery."

 

 

Exodus 20:14

 

 

In colonial days, a Boston sea captain named Kemble returned home after being at sea for three years. His wife met him at the dock, and he embraced and kissed her when he saw her. Sadly, he was sentenced to spend two hours in the stocks because kissing in public was against the law. We can see how our society has changed since then!

 

God's seventh commandment is about keeping a promise of purity. God desires that we would keep our marriage relationship pure. This pertains not only to being physically pure, but mentally pure as well. In a world of wicked devices, it is often difficult to maintain a moral purity, but with God's strength, we can. Today, we will discuss God's purpose for a godly marriage.

 

God created marriage for companionship. Genesis 2:18 tells us, "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." When God created man, He knew that man needed someone to be with him. God brought man and woman together so that they would be companions and help meet each other's needs.

 

Our spouses are supposed to be our best friends! Though, many times we may treat our spouses more like strangers than friends. God created marriage so that we may encourage and uplift our spouses. We should create an atmosphere of love and peace in our home. God desires that the home and our marriage be where we find godly companionship.

 

God also designed marriage for completion. Although God had deemed everything else in His creation good, when He saw man alone, He said that it was not good that man was alone. God designed woman to complete man.

 

So often in today's society we see the husband and wife competing in their marriage. With so many two-income families, it seems as if the husband and wife spend little time together any more. But God desires that we would focus our energy on completing our spouses. As we seek to be the husband or wife God desires us to be, we will help combat the temptation of moral impurity in our marriages.

 

God designed marriage for a man and woman to come together to help each other. Genesis 2:24 says, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." God desires that we become one flesh and one mind in marriage. We cannot be one mind if we are constantly battling. We must put aside our differences and seek to be the companion and completer that God wants us to be.

 

Are you fulfilling God's purpose for your marriage? Are you seeking to complete your spouse? Also, are you being a companion to your spouse? Spend time in prayer right now, and ask God to help you be a better spouse. Also, think of one way you can show your love for your spouse today. It doesn't have to be something extravagant, but think of something you can do to show them how much you love them. As we seek to fulfill God's purpose for our marriages, we will help our spouses avoid the moral impurities of this world.

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Psalm 100-102 • 1 Corinthians 1

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