Purity in Relationships

In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. Half of their children spoke the language of the Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples but could not speak Hebrew. I rebuked them, cursed them, beat some of their men, and pulled out their hair. I forced them to take an oath before Gid and said:" you must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or yourselves! Didn't king Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations. He was loved by his God and God made him king over all aid real, yet foreign women drew him into sin. Why then should we hear about you doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our Gkd by marrying foreign women?" 
Even one of e sons of Jehoiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, had become a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. so I drove him away from me. Nehemiah 13:23-28

Although this conjures up images of the old movie: ' My Great Big Fat Greek Wedding', and Nehemiah sounds a lot like th father in the movie and I am waiting for him to suggest Windex as a fix all remedy, there is great truth in the passage.

As Christians we have to heed the scripture we must live by in the New Testament: ' do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.' 2 Corinthian 6:14 I have a friend who has done this and another who had been tempted. What tempts us? If we firmly believe that the source of happiness is to be in a relationship and God does not seem to provide then we will go and provide for ourselves.

What is wrong with this? Perhaps the premise that we will only be happy in a relationship. Many, who believe this have had failed relationships already.

The truth will set us free. So, therefore, what is the truth? The truth is that we can genuinely enjoy being single and content with The Lord fulfilling all our 'needs' for a relationship. A relationship, if it comes, must come out of wholeness and a genuine desire to share life with another, not suck the life out of them in an effort to be fulfilled.

If we can trust The Lord then we also must trust that He has the best plan for us. Tonight I watched Australian story. The profile tonight was Greg Norman, the golfer, now turned businessman. Greg is on his third marriage. His new wife says that neither are 'in charge', but that they cohabit equally. If this is the case I am pleased for them.

No one needs to dominate the other and we do not need to control The Lord to get what we believe we 'need'. Time to trust and keep it clean. Amen!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Who Rules?

The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers, I will pout out my fury on them like water. Hosea 5:10 World leaders of church and state are now all highly visible. When they are not open to consultation or do not listen they make judgements that are judged as foolish by both God and man. In Australia we just celebrated Australia Day and at this time various people are honoured for their contribution to society. Our Prime Minister, Mr Abbott, without consultation, conferred a knighthood on the Queen of England's husband, Phillip. Almost to a person, Australians judged this to be foolish. Even supporters have now distanced themselves. Imagine what it is like when church leaders follow their own emotions or the emotions of their people and change what is acceptable to God. For example, no longer considering adultery something that precludes a man from ministry. We might think we are clever, but actually going with a sinful flow. Where is God in all this? My emotions ar...
Read more

Know Your Sword!

So he took Him to Jerusalem, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "if you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: 'He will give His angels orders concerning You, to protect you, they will support You with their hands, so that you will not strike Your foot against a stone.' And Jesus answered him, "it is said: 'do not test The Lord your God." And the Devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time. Luke 4:9-11 In this third test Satan quoted scripture but Jesus knew His scripture and was not going to be deceived by his enemy twisting the truth. I am amazed at what Satan tempted Jesus with. He did not know Christ. He had succeeded in tempting the first Adam yet he was thwarted in this attempt. Jesus had lived 30 years and been tutored in godliness with contentment, he was prepared, baptised in the Spirit and sold out to the Father's purpose. Every time our enemy comes against us we ...
Read more

Little Things Grow

The boy's mother said to Elisha, "as The Lord lives and you yourself live, I will not leave you. So he got up and followed her. 2 Kings 4:30 The Shunamite woman had travelled to Mt Carmel to find Elisha after the death of her son. Although Elisha had sent his servant Gehazi to the boy with his staff the woman had come to find Elisha and was not leaving without him. I like this lady's spirit. I am sure The Lord God Almighty also valued her heart. She had a heart for God and made room for Him in her world. Now, having lost her son she knew what to do: find Elisha and not let him go until he came to restore her son. What made the Shunamite woman believe that Elisha could raise her son? Was it the same faith that made her provide him a place to stay in her home? I believe it was God working in her life. I am grateful for her faith, I can read and be encouraged. We do not know her name yet her story lives in scripture. What a little thing it was to feed Elisha and then provide ...
Read more