Brother, in your words, your wife has experienced a tragic incident where she was raped...traumatic in and of itself. You took her back after she begged you to...that breaks my heart...because when the woman in John chapter 8 was caught in the very act of adultery, Jesus didn't condemn her, but told her to go and sin no more...in other words, repent, change the way you think and believe, and it will change your behavior.
If you want to know how the Lord would want you to treat your wife, then read Romans 5 where it says when we were yet ungodly, yet sinners, yet enemies of God, God demonstrated His love for us...He loved us as He loved Himself...yes, God does indeed love Himself, after all, God is love. Does it astound you that God delights in us, He rejoices over us with singing, absolutely loves us beyond anything we can comprehend with our finite minds? I mean, think about it, God lives IN us, His very Spirit, lives in you, in your wife, in each of His children.Do you realize Jesus said whatever you have done to the least of these my brethren, you've done it unto Me?
Being a Christian does not mean we won't make wrong decisions, sometimes out of rebellion yes, but God still loves us, wants the best for us, and is willing to work with us, for the Scripture says that He is working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do you know God delights in your wife? that He rejoices over her with singing? That the plans that He has for her are for good and not evil? That she is the apple of His eye? That she is a jewel, a precious jewel in His sight? Oh yeah, she is. One thing I know for certain, the more God shows me His love and forgiveness, the more I love Him and want to be pleasing in His sight. And you know how He has shown that to me? Through my own husband.. I suspect your wife would willingly come alongside you if you were to show her that she is accepted (highly favored - same word the angel used when he spoke to Mary) and deeply loved by you no matter what mistake she may have made or will make. Love is laying down your life, and taking up the cross of Christ, and following Him, which means, following His example. He laid down His life. As my pastor said tonight, there is a price to following Jesus. ...except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone, but if it is sown into the ground, then it will bear much fruit. What does that mean? Jesus is our example to follow. Paul says that death worked in him in order that others may live. Find the heart of God towards your wife..
Father, this man is so loved by you, and your heart for him and towards him is just the same as it is towards his wife. Open the eyes of his heart and let him see your heart, see through your eyes. Open his ears to hear What saith the Lord on this matter concerning his wife, YOUR child. God is love, and love thinks the best of every person, and esteems others higher than themselves. Love works no ill will toward another, love is the fulfillment of the law. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
