Dec 13 2011 - E100.56c – Matthew 5:27-37, Faithfulness
Jesus calls us to live lives marked by complete faithfulness. Those who are married should be faithful to their marriage partners. And not only outwardly faithful; affections and sexual passions are to be directed exclusively to the one to whom we have pledged our love. We need to take great care of what captures our attention and fills our eyes that our imagination is not lead away from exclusive devotion to our spouse. The sexual images that are prevalent in our culture and many consider harmless can be a deadly drug that does not satisfy but leaves an incessant craving for more – a drug that will poison our relationships and lead to death. Don't play with fire.
Marriage is for life. It is not the chains of a life sentence but the bonds of a covenant faithfulness that will not cease to embrace the beloved. It is a reflection of God's great love for us declared in every page of Scripture and displayed most clearly in the Lord Jesus Christ; a love that will not let us go. We are to love like that.
We are to be people whose word can be trusted because we have a God whose word never fails. Jesus calls to reflect the character of God in our relationships with one another.
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Father God, thank you that your affections never stray, neither do you cast us off despite our many failings. Help us to love as you have loved and to be faithful as you are faithful.
Peter Misselbrook