**Day 24: The Relationship That Lasts **
“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”” Mark 10:9
When I was growing up my mum went to great lengths to make sure I wasn’t seen as an unfortunate lad from a ‘broken family’. Yes my parents were divorced, but they both still loved me and worked hard to give me a solid upbringing (plus I got double the Christmas presents which I thought was a decent bonus). Back then my situation was still somewhat rare. Fast forward 20 years, and divorce, remarriage and numerous step or half siblings is much more common. This cultural shift makes the teaching of Jesus in Mark 10:1-12 all the more controversial, and all the more important.
For a full picture of the way Christians should view marriage and divorce we’d have to do a much wider study of the New Testament . People come to different conclusions though no one would force someone to stay in an abusive or dangerous situation. What is clear from even these verses alone is that God does not take divorce lightly. Marriage was designed to be a commitment for life. That’s why traditionally, vows would say ‘for better for worse… for richer for poorer.’ But today, when marriage seems to be more about romantic feelings than a lifelong commitment, the traditional vows are often dropped for something more soppy and informal. All this makes Jesus’s words in v9 pack a punch ‘Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate’.
It is important for us to see the rationale behind this stance. God isn’t out to steal our joy or perpetuate our dissatisfaction. He knows marriage is hard. He knows the best of us are going to ask at times ‘is this worth it?!’ But, he also knows that marriage is about something bigger than the relationship between a man and a woman. It’s meant to be a picture of the ultimate relationship we are made for, the relationship between Christ and his church. And so marriage should also be a joyful taste of what is ultimately found in Jesus.
The penny dropped for me when someone explained that God didn’t look down at his creation, see the institution of marriage, and think it would make a neat picture for his relationship with his people. Rather, he designed marriage specifically to be a reflection of that relationship. This is why God gets to tell us what to do, because it’s his gig. But more than that it’s why God’s design can be trusted; he is good and out for our joy.
So whether you are married, or not, whether you long to be married, or wish you weren’t, here is the good news; You were created first for Jesus, not marriage.. The relationship that will truly fulfil and satisfy you is a relationship with him. And although he knows all your faults, and though you have cheated on him time and time again, he will never give up on you. He will always be ready to welcome you back in open arms when you humbly seek his forgiveness. So, if you know Jesus place your hope in that relationship and the rest of your relationships might not be easy, but at least they’ll be in the right perspective. If you don’t know Jesus look to the cross and see how far he went to pursue you. Commit to him today and his commitment to you will last forever. No matter what tomorrow brings, he hates divorce and if you are truly his, he will never cause you to separate.
I’m in my 30s now and know for myself the joys and the battles marriage brings. I’m thankful for the love of my parents despite the situation we all ended up in. But I’m most thankful for Jesus, for the depth and the example of his love for me, and I pray my marriage will be a reflection, (albeit a dim one) of that joyous relationship.
Written by Pete Stewart
Passage for today: Mark 10:1-16
A thought to remember: Jesus will never turn us away if we humbly return to him.
A question to ask: Where might I be trying to be finding ultimate joy in a relationship with someone else and not in my relationship with Jesus.
A song to sing: Magnificent, Marvelous, Matchless Love