Matthew – God’s Purposes

I talked with a young, unmarried teacher just last night, who commented on how Randy and I work together in the classrooms here in Bolivia. “You and Randy work as a team, that is so cool!” I chuckled a bit and said, “Well, it took us a few years, almost 48 to be exact, to achieve our team spirit.” What she doesn’t see or realize that behind the scene are two very different personalities who realize the gifts and abilities that each of us has been given by God.
We know who does what the best and are willing to plan lessons accordingly. We sometimes strongly disagree because of our “night and day” differences when dreaming about our goals. But because of the love of God in us, our love for each other never fails in the discussions. Those disagreements actually lead to each of us seeing life from a different perspective and forming a better plan because of this revelation!

We have many divorced friends who we love dearly. Most will say, we were not under God’s will when we married and did not live for Him while married. We didn’t know how to be married. We didn’t know how to handle life while going through financial hard times. We didn’t know how to disagree without fighting for our “rights” as individuals. There is the problem today in this key word…individuals. They never came together “united as one” under God’s will and purpose for them as a couple in the marriage bond. Without God, we fight as individuals, selfishly driven to get our own way.
Jesus points out this is not what God intended…
Jesus also knew then what is said and acceptable in today’s world…“Not everyone can accept this statement,” only those who God helps.
Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, Jesus provided a way back to God. Come to Him. Stay with Him. God will help and bless all marriages where two individuals come together as “one” in Him. Use your God given differences, with God’s help, to create a bond of ONE that cannot be broken.
Matthew 18, NLT
Discussion about Divorce and Marriage

3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”
4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” 5 And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked.

10 Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!”
11 “Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps. 12 Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for creating us the way you did. Thank you, dear Jesus, for showing us with your life, how to lay down our selfishness and think of others more than ourselves. Help us not to fight for our “rights” but to focus on being more righteous in your eyes. Help us to be one in You.
In Jesus Name, Amen