Scripture:
"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."
(Hebrews 13:4)
Devotion:
The sanctity of marriage means that it is spiritual and sacred. It should be permanent and reserved exclusively for couples that truly love each other. Marriage is a holy thing and is carried out in church in the eyes of God and before others who must be there to act as witnesses.
Marriage isn't just the unity of two individuals through paper and law but rather a covenant with the Lord.
Marriage, as designed and decreed by the Lord, is meant to be a life-long covenantal commitment exclusively between one man and one woman. These two made sacred vows before the Lord and in the presence of the church, to remain faithful to each other, “for richer or poorer, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.”
“Exclusive” means sharing that relationship with no other outside of the marriage bond except the one that you married to. That is why, extra-marital sex is forbidden. The marriage bed is to be kept pure. It is the place where the two who have been “joined together as one flesh” can fully and unreservedly share the joys and delight of their marital union. Sharing that kind of an intimacy with another whom we are not legally and rightfully married to is adultery and sexual immorality.
Today, that Godly virtue is scoffed at by many. There is an increasing number of couples who believe and practice what is now called an “open marriage.”
What is an “open marriage?” It is a marriage or relationship in which both partners agree that each may have sexual relations with others.
This is in direct violation of Biblical marriage. It does not honor the “sacred marriage vows”.
There was a time when “sleeping around” with multiple partners was socially unacceptable and taboo. But things have degenerated so much, unmarried couples or married persons have sexual affairs with persons outside of their marriage and feel no shame at all. Again, much of contemporary literature, novels, movies and even theatre plays dramatize and glorifies that which is an abomination in the sight of the Lord. Over time, these relationships bring serious harm and disorder. As Christians, we need to flee these practices.
Reflection:
(1) Ever heard of the concept of the “open Marriage”? If yes, what do you think and feel about it?
(2) How seriously do we guard the “sanctity of marriage”? Are we beginning to downplay the “sanctity” of marriage because of what we witness in our contemporary society?
(3) Just because many people are doing it, doesn’t make it right, does it?
Prayer:
O Lord, we pray that we will all treat marriage as a sacred and holy commitment we make for LIFE. Preserve and protect all marriages against the onslaught of all immoral, ungodly and rebellious ideologies and practices. May our marriages bring honor to the Lord from generation to generation. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.