Why does God hate divorce? Matt. 19:5-7, "......For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become "ONE" flesh...So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what "GOD" has joined together, let man not separate." Eph. 5:22-32 "Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives as "CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR HER"...."This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church." (emphasis mine)
First, please don't let yourself get caught on the words "Wives, submit to your own husbands..." for we are all called to serve one another, husbands and wives. My question is: Should we examine ourselves to make sure we are not in the process of divorcing our "Husband"? For we, the "Church", are Christ's bride. From the beginning God created marriage as a picture of His intimate relationship with man. God's love for His people has never changed, "For God cannot change...". "He is the same yesterday, today and forever." But throughout Bible times Israel's love was fickle, prostituting themselves with other gods. Yet, God, would forgive and heal when they were finally broken and ready to humbly come back to Him. The requirements, every time, for them to be restored as a people before Him, was simple and required just a few things: That they humble themselves, turn from their sin, and submit to Him. 2 Chron. 7:14. Are we currently prostituting ourselves with our idols and gods (anything we put ABOVE God)? "You shall have no other gods before Me." I.e. self, children, spouse, job, money, sex, acceptance, gadgets....This all can keep us from God and His best for us. Are we distracted by all the "NOISE" in our lives, turning our hearts away from our first Love? I believe God would have us ask Him to help us examine our hearts, that we might be aware of anything that we are putting before Him. We need to take these things seriously because, just as Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Tim. 4:1 "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons." Also, Peter says, in 2 Pet. 1:10 "Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election..."So, since God's Word clearly says that there will be those who will CHOOSE to turn away from the faith, we want to make sure we do not fall into that category.
How do we make our "calling and election sure"? Just as a husband and wife are intimately one, we, as the body of Christ, His "Bride", are to abide in Christ, our "Husband"; our affections turned FIRST to Him. Which is set up by an unwavering commitment to love Him with all our heart, mind, and strength, starting with devoting ourselves to spending intimate, quality time daily, putting ALL distractions aside, to listen and share with Him honestly, being accomplished through prayer and SOAKING in His Word. Next, putting into practice what we hear from Him in prayer and His Word. After that, we need to CONNECT with the rest of His body, remembering that individually we are just one part, and a body only works if all parts are working together. So, now, since Christ is our "Husband" and also the "Head" of His body, we need to submit ourselves under Him in loving obedience continually examining ourselves that we are in LOVE with our "Husband" first! and second, LOVING His "Church" by serving one another in prayer, support and encouragement.
