Memorise: Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 1 Peter 3:7
Read: Malachi 2:13-17
13 Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.
14 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.
15 Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring.[a] So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
16 “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,”[b] says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.
17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask. By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?”
Bible in one year: Psalm 36–39, Matthew 23:1-28
AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
1. Apart from sexual infidelity, one other way of defiling the matrimonial bed is through domestic violence. This can come from the man or the woman.
2. God hates violence generally, but particularly despises it in marriage, and for this reason, He said in Malachi 2:16: “For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with is garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.”
3. The breakdown of affection between married couples is a highly emotional issue with God, so much so that in today’s Bible reading, the tears, weeping and crying emanating from the agony of broken marriages made Him disregard the people’s worship, as we see in Malachi 2:13: “And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering anymore, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.”
4. Many people don’t know that domestic violence particularly among married couples, is a great hindrance and stumbling block to their spiritual growth and blessing. This is the reason why the Holy Spirit sent these words to the Church in 1 Peter 3:7, saying: “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
5. Violence, wife battering, husband battering and the like directly offend the Almighty God.
6. I have on many occasions told the story of a man whose only daughter was maltreated by her husband. This man hated his son-in-law so much that his hatred made him terribly sick. It was not until he forgave his son-in-law that he was able to recover from his sickness. This is how much domestic violence can destroy lives and families. Husbands, you are inviting the wrath of God upon your life when you maltreat the redeemed daughter of Zion you are priviledge to have as wife.
7. Note that in Malachi 2:16, when expressing how much He hates divorce and domestic violence, God used the Name He uses in combat.
8. Therefore, stop defiling your bed with violence against your spouse, either physical violence or verbal violence.
9. Wives should learn to submit to their husbands, irrespective of what the world thinks about his (Ephesians 5:22-23).
10. Beloved, the truth is that unless we allow Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, to come into our marriages, the expected peace may continue to elude us.
11. Therefore, I appeal to you to raise an altar of submission and corporate worship to the Lord Jesus Christ in your home, and you will begin to experience peace and prosperity in Jesus’ Name.
SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS
Action Point: Go to God in repentance for any form of violence you have introduced into your home.
Hymn
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master’s will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty
Your love has wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show other Your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honoured guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
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Joesphine Ehigie
TJ