Relationships

 

    Relationships take and give a lot in life.  They are necessary and fruitful work.  If you are not willing to work at them, then you will find yourself alone when you really don't want or need to be alone.  All relationships require prayer.  If you are not praying over a relationship then it probably will not grow or last.

    People would follow Jesus to test him.  They would try to corner him in really sticky questions like they could trip him up.  One of these question was on the basis of divorce.  What grounds are lawful?  That has many elements.  If we look at the worlds standards, then it would be when you are not happy.  However, God has much higher standards.  

    God created man and woman to come together to unite as one forsaking all others if necessary.  The law of marriage has been around since the beginning of time.  What God joins together, no one can separate.  That means united forever.  If we get married without God's blessing, then there are elements where we can get divorced without it being a sin.  Even then, it has to be done in the proper manner.  

    Divorce is permitted because it is a product of hard hearts.  The law of divorce came much later than the law of marriage for this reason.  People kept proving that they will put themselves before God.  

    Adultery is the only way a person can divorce and remarry without it being a sin because it destroys the unity of marriage.  It is better to never marry than to marry the person that God did not chose.  If you can't be faithful, then never marry.  Divorce causes a soul wound that is not easily healed.  It is better to be single and honor the kingdom of heaven than to marry and cause horrendous pain to others.

    God listens to the persistence of our prayers.  He gives blessings in the relationship of the persistent.  If you have faith, then it will win in the end.  With faith and love from both parties a marriage can survive anything.  However, it takes two parties praying persistently.  There can be mistakes, but they must be repented and faced to be dealt with.  

    Jesus loved to see the children.  He would place his hands on them to pray over them because they are a blessing.  He did not like the adults shutting them down or trying o squash their spirit.  He wanted them to come to him freely because heaven belongs to them.  

    Someone asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life.  He was probably wanting to live forever, not so much worried about heaven.  He was not expecting Jesus' response: keep the commandments, all of them.  However, it is more than good deeds.  Salvation can not be earned because as soon as you sin it would wash all the good that you have done.  

    Salvation is about the heart.  This man was rich, so Jesus told the young man to go sale all his belongings to follow Jesus.  The man walked away grieved because Jesus hit him where it would hurt and revealed where his heart truly resided.  He coveted his wealth, overlooked the poor, and loved it more than God (idolatry).  That means he was unconsciously breaking three of the commandments.

      Jesus turned his disciples when the man walked away.  He pointed out how it is hard for a wealthy person to enter heaven for the above mentioned reasons.  The disciples were astonished by his words.  No one cannot enter heaven on their own.  They have to have God intercede and that is why Jesus came.  If you are willing to give up everything to follow Jesus now, then it will be restored in Heaven because of your relationship with Jesus.

    

Matthew 19