Hebrews 13:4 NIV
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
INSIGHT
-The Hebrew word for marriage is bawal also translated as ba’al which means to marry. Hadar in Hebrew means to honor or adorn. Marriage is an intimate and complementing union between a man and a woman in which the two become one physically, and in the wholeness of life. Although the fall has marred the divine purpose and function of marriage, this definition reflects the God-ordained ideal for marriage from the beginning. The Lord commands that the marriage bed should kept pure and the adulterous and sexual immoral will be judged. 1 Corinthians 7:2 reminds us that, “since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.” Sexual relations outside the marital bed is considered as sexual immorality. We are reminded to remain alert even as peer pressure and societal evils drives us to look at sexual immorality as a common evil, that looks okay to perform. Honorability and love is the key to a genuine marriage, and the two are mutually exclusive. Marriage is a honorable institution that has been designed by God for a divine purpose and He has commanded us to honor our marital relationships.
PRAYER
We thank You Lord our Father for the gift of life and the blessings You have bestowed upon our lives. You have provided us with more than we could ever imagined, we count our blessings and name them one by one. We thank You for Your amazing power that work in our lives, thank You for Your goodness and blessings over us. We thank Youfor the hope that You continually give us even as we go through the toughest of times, may You strengthen us in Your purposes for our lives and marriages. We pray for all those who are single that Your grace of marriage may fill their hearts that You may unite them with their spouses in love. We thank You for all those who are separated and divorced that Your purposes for their lives may come to completion. We also remember all the widows and widowers that You may guide them in all things for encourage them in Your love. We thank You dear Jesus for Your great love, mercy and care. Even though the wages of sin is death, You have given us the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. We ask You merciful Lord to forgive us from all our sins and trespasses that we have committed either knowing and unknowingly, and deliver us from all unrighteousness. We are sorry for the times we have committed sexual immorality that You may forgive us. May You remove all accusations against us in the courts of heaven dear Jesus our Advocate and wash us with Your precious blood. We thank You for Your mercies which are new each morning and for Your abundant grace in our lives and marriages. We humbly implore You to help us and give us the grace to honor our marriages. We thank You Lord for You have never left us orphaned but You have given us the Holy Spirit to guide us, comfort us, and help us in every area of our lives. We pray all this believing and trusting in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Further reading: Jude 1:7, Romans 6:23
Romans 12:9-10 NIV
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
INSIGHT
-The Christian life is a constant battle field to dethrone self and enthrone Christ. One of the most practical tests of whether Christ is truly our Lord is seen in our relationships. Especially, the marital relationship which is a lifelong union that experiences uncountable challenges. At the same time in the marital space, God blesses a family that is united by bonds of love and grants them favor. 1 John 4:20 tells us that, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” Sincere love must be found within the marriage which is actually its foundation. Sincere love which is the Godlike kind of love also called Agape is paramount for every marital relationship. Agape love is the sacrificial kind of love that Jesus gave His life for us so that we may have eternal life. It is because of Agape love that we are able to truly honor each other. This is kind of love that is selfless and seeks to do good always, putting the interests of your spouse first.
PRAYER
Dear Father, we lift Your name high and worship You for You are worthy of our praise. In You we live, move and have our being. We praise You for You have fearfully and wonderfully created us. Thank You Lord for all Your mercies that are new and fresh every morning. Father, we thank You for all You have done for us, for Your faithfulness and kindness. Truly You are good and Your love endures forever more. Almighty Father, may You forgive us from all the sins we have done said and thought. Forgive us for all insincere love we have had. For the many times we have not loved our spouses and neighbors. We repent for where we have not shown the love of Christ to many and where we have been selfish in any kind of way. We pray that You will teach us Your ways. May You teach us how to love the way You have loved us. May You help us to love our spouses and neighbors the way You have intended it to be in Your holy Word. We come against the evil plans of the enemy that always want to create strife and conflict in our lives and relationships. We pray that You will grant us Your peace that surpasses all human understanding. May You Oh Lord Jesus take over where there is lack and may Your providence prevail. Father may You also remember our nation Kenya that You may water our land and give us food security even where there is drought. May You bless our leadership that they may give good and sound judgment from Your bountiful wealth of wisdom. You are Holy and Righteous Lord and Your nature is love, we glorify You and seek Your face now and forever amen.
Further reading: Colossians 3:14
Ephesians 5:33 NIV
“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
INSIGHT
-Every man without exception is called to love his wife as his very own self. This is demonstrated by behavior worthy of esteem, always seeking the best for her with an attitude of lovingkindness. Also, each wife must see to it that she respects and delights in her husband. That is; by treats him with loving concern, treasuring him, honoring him, and holding him dear to her heart. 1 Corinthians 11:3 reminds us that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. God calls us to honor the horizontal relation in marriage which is between the husband and wife, and most importantly the vertical relationship which is between the married couple and God, governed by the fear of the Lord.
PRAYER
Oh Father, we worship You and thank You for You are always with us and will never leave us nor forsake us. Thank You for Your incredible sacrifice that You gave us so that we might have freedom and life. May You forgive us for the times we have not given thanks to You, we have not honored one another and not taken You and Your word seriously. We come against all plans and devices of the devil that are targeted towards our marriages in Jesus Mighty Name. We nullify them and plead the blood of Jesus upon our marriages. May You help us to set our eyes and our hearts on You alone and that You may anoint us afresh. May You train us in Your word daily and help us to keep it and perform it for the glory and honor of Your name. May You renew our spirits, fill us with Your peace and joy. We love You and need You, today and every day. We give You praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy. Father we remember all marriages and we pray that You shall reign and take over. May You restore love, unity, respect, honor and hope in all marriages. We thank You for Your loving kindness and mercies. We pray that You will answer all the prayers that the different marriages have and provide, heal and increase them. May You enable each parent and guardian to take care of their families needs. May You elevate each one and our families to the next level dear Jesus. May You grant us the grace of increase together with our families. May You pour Your rain of blessings, good climate, good leadership, blessed economy upon our land, Kenya. May You bind us together with cords of love that cannot be broken dear Jesus. May Your goodness and mercies follow us, our marriages and our nation all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in Your house forever. We pray this believing and trusting in Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.
Further reading: 1 Peter 2:17
John 2:1-11 NIV
“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.”
INSIGHT
-Jesus honors marriages and He performed His first miracle in the wedding at Cana. When the wedding couples were about to suffer shame for lack of wine, Jesus was prompted by her mother Mary to perform a miracle for them. Jesus instructed them to fill the six purification jars which symbolize the human kind and our inabilities without God, and converted it into wine, giving us the Holy Spirit. In the marriage institution, we need Jesus who sanctifies us by the washing of His blood and gives us the Holy Spirit to help us and guide us through life dynamism. Unfortunately some people enter matrimony before the cross. It is vital from inception to seek the guidance of the Lord before making serious marital decisions, that may result to undesired consequences. The Lord is our salvation and calls each one of us to drink from Him who is the Vine and we are the branches, so that we may bear fruit in every areas of our lives.
PRAYER
Oh King of kings, and Lord of lords we approach Your throne of grace so that we may obtain grace and mercy to help us during our time of need. We bless Your name for You have been our Ebenezer this far. Thank You God for the gift of marriage that You have endowed us with. We thank You for our spouses and our children for they are a good gift from You. We pray that You will enable us to be good stewards of these wonderful gifts. May You intervene and solve every challenge facing all the marriages in the world. For all those who are preparing to marry and get married, may You be their anchor and strength. May You open the gates of grace for them that they may see and experience You divine providence. For those who are waiting on You for marriages may You guide them and grant them the grace to move to the next level. Dear Lord we praise You and thank You. We humbly ask You to help us to take care of our marriages and our families as You have instructed us in Your word. You are the Vine and we are the branches dear Jesus, may You help us to bear much fruit for the glory of Your name. Holy Spirit may You guide us and teach us on the way to go. We are nothing without You Lord. We surrender our lives unto You, may Your grace abound in us and guide us every area of our lives. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now, and forever more. Amen
Further reading: John 15:5, John 14:26
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
INSIGHT
-In the context of a marriage, a couple united by strong bonds of love and governed by Jesus Christ is able to stand firm. Marriages are ordained by God and it is proper to keep Christ in the middle of all marriages. Since two are better than one, the couple obtains favor, and has a good reward for their toil. When one falls the other lifts up his/her partner. If two lie together they keep warm. Two are better than, and the third code who is Christ, cements the marriage union in codes of love that cannot be broken. When the husband and wife honor Christ, then the marriage union is honored.
SUMMARY
Marriage is a covenant between a man and woman who make solemn promises before God, family, and friends that they will “love, honor, and cherish” one another until “death us do part.” In front of witnesses, a marriage is solemnized and seals through blood in consummation. Even though it is not difficult to dishonor the marriage when one or both partner commit sexual immorality.
Hebrews 13:4 reveals that, ”marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were judged because the majority were sexually immoral and only Lot and his family were saved. Malachi 2:14 says that, “You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.” It is from within a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly (Mark 7:20-23). 1 Corinthians 6:16 tells us that, since two have become one, when one unites himself with a prostitute becomes one body with her. Perversions like prostitution, adultery, fornication, pornography, masturbation, have been common in today’s society and have been a major cause of divorce, apart from financial matter, and other issues. God hate’s divorce, and if anyone divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9). Let us continue praying that the Holy Spirit fills us with the fruit of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, against which there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). Love is the fruit of the Spirit and it is the greatest between faith and hope (1 Corinthians 13:13). When every other thing fails, love remains. God is love, and He gives us the Agape kind of love that never fails. The love that Jesus Christ gave us when He sacrificed Himself on the cross for the sake of our redemption. In the marriage God calls us to have Agape love which is unconditional and sacrificial in nature. Romans 12:9-10 reminds us that, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Honor should be given to each other as the man is commanded to love his wife and his wife commanded to respect him. Love much be sincere, as the couple. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 reminds us that, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Love never fails. The purpose of marriage is ultimately a reflect our relationship with God and one another founded by love, in every aspect as instructed in His word. In conclusion, for us to create an Eden in our marriages, we need to have God at the center, so that many may see Him through us and glorify His name.
PRAYER
We give thanks to You Lord and praise Your name for You are good and Your mercies endures forever. We proclaim Your name and make known what You have done among all the nations. We sing praises to You Lord and tell of all Your wonderful acts. We glory in Your holy name and rejoice in You Lord. We seek Your face always in our lives, relationships, marriages and nation. We call on You to take over our marriages for You are our Lord and nothing is hard for You. May You bless us Lord and keep us. May You make Your face to shine upon us and be gracious to us. May You lift up Your countenance upon us and give us peace. We pray this believing and trusting in Jesus mighty name. Amen
Further reading: 1 Corinthians 7:1-40