Week 5 Wrap-up

No responses this week.  I hope this is useful and God is speaking to you through this study.  This portion of scripture gives us three great moral illustrations.  Victory over anger, purity in sexual matters, and faithfulness in marriage.  It should be noted that these verses are speaking to true believers in Christ.  The non-christian certainly may benefit from following these principles but he is not capable of truly fulfilling them on his own without a heart that is controlled by God.

It is easy for us to compare ourselves to another person and come to the conclusion that we are somehow “better” because our sins are lesser than theirs.  I may be verbally abusive to my wife but at least I don’t hit her like that guy, or maybe I had one extra-marital affair but that guy has had several affairs.  I may drink a little too much on occasion but “Joe” drinks way more than I do.  The point is you can always find someone that appears worse than you.

The principle that Christ is expressing  is not the concern for external righteousness but what is inside the heart.    We feel good about ourselves because no one can see the anger or sexual impurity that is hidden in our thoughts.  God is as concerned about anger as much as murder, impure sexual thoughts as much as actual adultery.   He is concerned about what is in our hearts.  The external righteousness or goodness that is part of our image means nothing when there is unconfessed sin in our hearts.  It is easy to substitute the ceremonial aspects of religion, (e.g. attending church or bible study), for the demands of a clear conscience before God.  Only God can provide this “divine” righteousness over time through the transformation of our minds and our hearts. 

I had an “ah ha” moment with my reading this week on marriage.  What is the purpose of marriage?  Love, happiness, security, and producing a family come to mind.  These are good reasons, but I think the central reason is to illustrate the relationship between Christ and his bride, the church (us).  When a person is joined to Christ through salvation and in love, this creates a permanent bond that endures forever.   So it is when Christ joins a Christian man to a Christian woman.  This should be a permanent bond between two believers.

This is illustrated in the story of Hosea and his marriage to Gomer, the harlot.  God told Hosea  that he was to remain faithful to her despite her unfaithfulness to him.  They had 3 children together and Gomer had many lovers.  She eventually left Hosea and lived with other men.  Each lover was more of a loser than the last one.  They could not provide for her.  Hosea continued to give money to these men in secret so that Gomer, whom he loved so much, would have clothing, silver, oil, and wine.  Gomer did not know that Hosea was paying the bills and she would give her lover the credit.  How hurtful that must have been to Hosea to see his wife embracing her lover and thanking him for the gifts she received.  Certainly no one would have faulted Hosea for making a dramatic scene in the midst of his hurt.  He just continued to be faithful in his love toward her. 

Finally Gomer sank to even greater depths and was put on the slave block for sale.  She was naked and exposed to the community.  God told Hosea to buy her and he did.  After he had won the bidding he went to her, clothed her, and then took her home.  As instructed by God he continued to love her and demanded her faithfulness.  He did not punish her or even give her what she may have deserved in our eyes.  He redeemed her out of slavery and committed to love and remain faithful to her.

There are two points I gleaned from this.  First, I am the adulterous wife in this story.  Seduced by the world in so many ways.  Seeking satisfaction in life’s pleasures.  Christ is the faithful husband paying my bills.  I may run from Him and do things that hurt Him deeply but He continues to love me and pursue me.  He redeemed me from the slavery of this world.  He wants me for himself.

The second point is this is the example of true love in marriage.  I need to love my wife in this manner.  Loving her unconditionally, placing her needs before mine without expecting anything in return.  I should be encouraging her spiritual growth, lifting her up with praise and being careful not to criticize her in public.  I am called to love her as Christ loved the church.  Christ gave himself for the church, not criticizing it, but cleansing it with the word so that it may be presented to himself holy and blameless.  (Eph 5:25-28)

There are many other points of discussion in regards to marriage, divorce and re-marriage but obviously we won’t be able to cover all of them.  I am still interested in your thoughts about the topics of this past week.  You can always email me with questions or prayer requests if you don’t want to publish them on the blog.