Happily Ever After: Devotions from Time of GraceSample

When You’re Engaged: Powered by God Do the preceding principles of marriage sound hard? old fashioned? impossible? That’s what Jesus’ disciples thought too. “The disciples said to him, ‘If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry” (Matthew 19:10). You know what they meant. They didn’t think that they could fulfill those expectations. They didn’t think that kind of marriage could last or would be any fun. They took comfort from rabbinic rules allowing no-fault divorce. All you had to do back in the day was provide a certificate. To be sure, unless the Spirit of the Lord breathes in a home, God’s rules may seem impossible. “Jesus replied, ‘Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it is given” (Matthew 19:11). That is, if you haven’t been given the gift of faith, if you aren’t a believer, you don’t have the desire or strength to stay faithful in a one-flesh relationship until death parts you. But if you are connected by faith to the power source of the universe, it is indeed possible. And fulfilling. And satisfying. And beautiful. And fun. God’s Spirit enables you both to will and to do what is pleasing to God.