Day 23: Upholding the Institution of Marriage
Intention
God has called Christians to uphold the institution of marriage for the good of society and for His glory.
Scripture
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4
Reflection
We would all agree on the importance of worshipping the Triune God of Scripture. We should respond properly to the great salvation offered to us by God and purchased for us by the death of His only Son our Lord Jesus Christ.
Arguably the second most important priority in the Christian life is marriage and the family. The Bible begins with the marriage of Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:25) and ends with the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7). Marriage and the family are central in God’s work of creation and in the new creation.
In Matthew 19:6, Jesus Himself tells us how marriage is to take place. “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate,” Jesus says, quoting Genesis 2:24. Marriage is not between two men or two women or a person and an animal. That is not marriage. There is no such thing as a marriage between two people of the same sex. Marriage and the family are God’s only means for procreation.
God forbids fornication and adultery (1 Corinthians 6:18, Exodus 20:14, Galatians 5:19). He expects marriage to be held in high regard by all (Hebrews 13:4).
The family is the primary place for government and discipline, especially self-government (Genesis 18:19, Ephesians 6:4, Hebrews 12:9-11). The family is the primary place for education (Deuteronomy 6:7, Proverbs 1:8). The family is the primary place for regeneration (Exodus 20:6, Acts 2:39, Acts 16:30-31).
When God’s Word speaks of spiritual regeneration, He uses the image of the family continually. We are adopted into God’s family and given power to become the sons of God (John 1:12, Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 2:19).
As people approach the end of their life and sometimes upon their deathbed, it is with sadness that some realise the importance of the family rather than money, fame, prestige, power, position and other things that had seemed very important in their earlier years. No one ever says on their deathbed that they wished they had spent more time in the office. But many wish that they had spent more time with their family.
All true Christians who follow the Word of God are committed to upholding the family as God created and ordained it. As God blesses and enables, Christians are called to be a father and a mother with children. It is our duty and delight to work to promote this institution in our society.
Prayer
Our great God and loving heavenly Father, may You prosper us and give us good success at building strong Christian families in this day of neglect for the holy institution of marriage and the Christian family.
May the hearts of the fathers be turned to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. We pray that You will not come and strike the land with any further curses but that You would act strongly on our behalf and save us by Your great power and strengthen the family.
We ask this in the name and for the sake of our Lord Jesus. Amen.
31 Days Prayer Points
- Pray for the restoration of FAMILY, FATHERHOOD and MOTHERHOOD in our nation. Malachi 4:6
- Pray for healing for MARRIAGES, protection for CHILDREN and restoration of the sanctity of LIFE. Isaiah 58:12
- Pray for Revival, Renewal and Reformation for Australia, that our nation might return to God. 2 Chronicles 7:14
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