Marriage Joined By God
By Rev. Mark E. Vatcher
Christian marriage is a union of love between husband and wife, in which, God who is love, is the binding force (Matt 19:6). In
other words, God unites husband and wife. In His plan they are no longer two, but one (Gen 2:24; Matt 19:5; Eph 5:31). This
means that they have to surrender their entire being to the other and husbands have to love their wife as Christ loves His Church
(Eph 5:25). In fact their bond is stronger than that between them and their parents; they therefore, leave their parents and unite
with their spouse (Mark 10:7). Because God is the binding force in their union and God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6), it is
impossible to break the bond (Matt 19:6). Jesus clearly tells us that no one should separate what God has joined together (Matt
19:6). Therefore, when divorced people remarry, except for marital unfaithfulness (Matt 5:32), their first spouse is the only
real spouse. Therefore, sexual relationship with any other person becomes adultery (Luke 16:18). Since God is the binding
force, an attempt at rejecting the bond is an attempt at rejecting God. Divorce is therefore, against God. God therefore, hates
divorce (Malachi 2:16) and is not pleased with the offerings of those who divorce their spouse (Malachi 2: 13-14). Divorce is
absolutely prohibited by Jesus (Mk 10:11-12, Luke 6:18), except when the marriage was illicit (Matt 5:32).
Forgiveness is the very heart of Christianity, because, Christianity has to do with redemption and redemption has to do with
forgiveness. The whole redemption history revolves around God’s forgiveness. Although we are continually unfaithful to God
He does not abandon us; on the contrary He sacrificed His own life to compensate for the sins we committed against Him
(Matthew 26:27-28). If we have to accept His forgiveness we have to believe in it by showing the same type of forgiveness to
others when they are repentive, (Matt 6:12) especially our spouse. Sometimes, the stresses of marriage may seem unbearable,
especially if our spouse is alcoholic, abusive, mentally ill or unfaithful. In such situations, we should seek the Lord’s help. By
remembering, how Jesus compensated for our wrong doings, when we were unfaithful to him and wronged him. We should
continually pray and make sacrifices for the conversion of our spouse. In our prayers, we should surrender ourselves
completely to God’s will, and ask Him to be our thoughts, feelings, desires and actions. Only to this end and with every effort
being met should we then consider a divorce from our spouse. It is written (Matthew 5:31-32) ‘Anyone who divorces his wife
must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness,
causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone whom marries the divorced women commits adultery. There you have it, you
give it your all for God and when your spouse has done the unforgivable, broke the marital covenant and won’t repent, God has
left you a means to leave him or her and start out fresh. This is the only reason for divorce from your spouse. All other
problems in your marriage can be repaired through prayer and faith in God. Pray without ceasing because (Matt 7:8) “For
everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” If what you ask from God
does not manifest for you, it’s because you did’t really want it and God knew it, or you lacked faith in God. So pray with all
faith to have your spouse restored and God will deliver. Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, blessed are You my Lord. We give to You all our praise and thanksgiving for our blessed life. We truly
trust in You Lord that you guide us through our lives with Your blessed love everyday. Keep us strong Lord and bless our
marriage with your knowledge and wisdom as we trust in You for all things all the days of our lives. Keep our marriage
strong through faith and trust in You Lord. In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we pray. Amen
May God bless you all dearly beloved!
By Rev. Mark E. Vatcher
Christian marriage is a union of love between husband and wife, in which, God who is love, is the binding force (Matt 19:6). In
other words, God unites husband and wife. In His plan they are no longer two, but one (Gen 2:24; Matt 19:5; Eph 5:31). This
means that they have to surrender their entire being to the other and husbands have to love their wife as Christ loves His Church
(Eph 5:25). In fact their bond is stronger than that between them and their parents; they therefore, leave their parents and unite
with their spouse (Mark 10:7). Because God is the binding force in their union and God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6), it is
impossible to break the bond (Matt 19:6). Jesus clearly tells us that no one should separate what God has joined together (Matt
19:6). Therefore, when divorced people remarry, except for marital unfaithfulness (Matt 5:32), their first spouse is the only
real spouse. Therefore, sexual relationship with any other person becomes adultery (Luke 16:18). Since God is the binding
force, an attempt at rejecting the bond is an attempt at rejecting God. Divorce is therefore, against God. God therefore, hates
divorce (Malachi 2:16) and is not pleased with the offerings of those who divorce their spouse (Malachi 2: 13-14). Divorce is
absolutely prohibited by Jesus (Mk 10:11-12, Luke 6:18), except when the marriage was illicit (Matt 5:32).
Forgiveness is the very heart of Christianity, because, Christianity has to do with redemption and redemption has to do with
forgiveness. The whole redemption history revolves around God’s forgiveness. Although we are continually unfaithful to God
He does not abandon us; on the contrary He sacrificed His own life to compensate for the sins we committed against Him
(Matthew 26:27-28). If we have to accept His forgiveness we have to believe in it by showing the same type of forgiveness to
others when they are repentive, (Matt 6:12) especially our spouse. Sometimes, the stresses of marriage may seem unbearable,
especially if our spouse is alcoholic, abusive, mentally ill or unfaithful. In such situations, we should seek the Lord’s help. By
remembering, how Jesus compensated for our wrong doings, when we were unfaithful to him and wronged him. We should
continually pray and make sacrifices for the conversion of our spouse. In our prayers, we should surrender ourselves
completely to God’s will, and ask Him to be our thoughts, feelings, desires and actions. Only to this end and with every effort
being met should we then consider a divorce from our spouse. It is written (Matthew 5:31-32) ‘Anyone who divorces his wife
must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness,
causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone whom marries the divorced women commits adultery. There you have it, you
give it your all for God and when your spouse has done the unforgivable, broke the marital covenant and won’t repent, God has
left you a means to leave him or her and start out fresh. This is the only reason for divorce from your spouse. All other
problems in your marriage can be repaired through prayer and faith in God. Pray without ceasing because (Matt 7:8) “For
everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” If what you ask from God
does not manifest for you, it’s because you did’t really want it and God knew it, or you lacked faith in God. So pray with all
faith to have your spouse restored and God will deliver. Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, blessed are You my Lord. We give to You all our praise and thanksgiving for our blessed life. We truly
trust in You Lord that you guide us through our lives with Your blessed love everyday. Keep us strong Lord and bless our
marriage with your knowledge and wisdom as we trust in You for all things all the days of our lives. Keep our marriage
strong through faith and trust in You Lord. In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we pray. Amen
May God bless you all dearly beloved!
