TEN THINGS ABOUT STANDING - Part 2
So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. Deuteronomy 5:32-33
I want to continue to share with you the final points about standing from yesterday’s devotional. This could also be titled, “Why Stand?†These insights into standing with God and praying for marriage restoration His way are not a complete list, but they are, in my book, the top ten:
6. The dilemma of divorced and dating can be disastrous, but can be detoured.
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Romans 8:5
If you are standing, God considers you to be married. By wearing your wedding rings (and by the way you act), the world considers you to be married. The Lord is there to guide you, but there are no dating situations, nor finding another spouse scenarios. (Yes, you deserve “someone better,†but you must give God time to create that new person in your husband or wife.)
7. You will be a witness for Jesus Christ who can touch thousands of other people.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.†Acts 1:8
I have said previously that the message from the pew is often louder than the message from the pulpit. A comment that many standers report hearing from church friends is, "I wish I had your faith." Today, people all around you are looking for someone to be their example. There are no more John Wayne-type heroes. Super athletes fail us. People in ministry fail us. World leaders fail us. Regardless of what they say, your family, co-workers, church friends, and neighbors may be attempting to discourage you, but they are still looking for a flesh and blood example of a hero. By standing strong, you will be that hero of faith to more people than you can imagine.
8. The generational curse of divorce in your family can be broken.
“‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.’†Numbers 14:18
Charlyne and I know of too many families where children are in rebellion, because one parent walked out on them. It is frightening to think what society will be like a generation from now, if Jesus does not come for us all, as second and third generation children of divorce grow up and attempt to make their own marriages work.
9. You will be leaving your family a legacy.
A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22
Our daughter, Lori, has written several Charlyne Cares devotionals. Each one arrived by email without Lori telling us she was writing a devotional. My wife and I have always wept reading them when they arrive. Lori was a young teenage girl when we were divorced. She, like our other two children, went through things back then that we will never share. Today, Lori is a Christian wife and mother of four children. She is on the school board at the kids’ Christian school. When reading each of the devotionals, I had to ask myself what Lori would have been like today if Charlyne had not taken a stand for our marriage. We may not be leaving our three kids a lot of stock and property to squabble over, but my wife has already given them, and our grandchildren, a legacy of a faith that is worth more than the largest trust fund. Regardless of your financial state right now, you have this same opportunity to leave a legacy for your children, nieces and nephews that is beyond measure.
10. You can enjoy all the benefits and blessings of God with a marriage restored.
Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. Malachi 2:15
Why is the one thing that you desire the most in last place? If your spouse came home today, how many years could you enjoy together before one of your deaths separated you again? Fifty? Twenty? Two? Can you see that even your marriage, measured by eternity, is only a flash? On the other hand, your prodigal reaching Heaven, your faith, your witness, your legacy, will all have benefits long after all of us have gone to glory. It has been said that if we take care of the small things, the big things will take care of themselves. If you can keep the first nine items, as given above, in proper perspective, number ten, the “big thing†for you right now, will be taken care of, not by itself, but by our Mighty God. Keep standing strong.
Click here to read part 1 of this devotional.
Because He lives,
Bob Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. Deuteronomy 5:32-33
I want to continue to share with you the final points about standing from yesterday’s devotional. This could also be titled, “Why Stand?†These insights into standing with God and praying for marriage restoration His way are not a complete list, but they are, in my book, the top ten:
6. The dilemma of divorced and dating can be disastrous, but can be detoured.
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Romans 8:5
If you are standing, God considers you to be married. By wearing your wedding rings (and by the way you act), the world considers you to be married. The Lord is there to guide you, but there are no dating situations, nor finding another spouse scenarios. (Yes, you deserve “someone better,†but you must give God time to create that new person in your husband or wife.)
7. You will be a witness for Jesus Christ who can touch thousands of other people.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.†Acts 1:8
I have said previously that the message from the pew is often louder than the message from the pulpit. A comment that many standers report hearing from church friends is, "I wish I had your faith." Today, people all around you are looking for someone to be their example. There are no more John Wayne-type heroes. Super athletes fail us. People in ministry fail us. World leaders fail us. Regardless of what they say, your family, co-workers, church friends, and neighbors may be attempting to discourage you, but they are still looking for a flesh and blood example of a hero. By standing strong, you will be that hero of faith to more people than you can imagine.
8. The generational curse of divorce in your family can be broken.
“‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.’†Numbers 14:18
Charlyne and I know of too many families where children are in rebellion, because one parent walked out on them. It is frightening to think what society will be like a generation from now, if Jesus does not come for us all, as second and third generation children of divorce grow up and attempt to make their own marriages work.
9. You will be leaving your family a legacy.
A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22
Our daughter, Lori, has written several Charlyne Cares devotionals. Each one arrived by email without Lori telling us she was writing a devotional. My wife and I have always wept reading them when they arrive. Lori was a young teenage girl when we were divorced. She, like our other two children, went through things back then that we will never share. Today, Lori is a Christian wife and mother of four children. She is on the school board at the kids’ Christian school. When reading each of the devotionals, I had to ask myself what Lori would have been like today if Charlyne had not taken a stand for our marriage. We may not be leaving our three kids a lot of stock and property to squabble over, but my wife has already given them, and our grandchildren, a legacy of a faith that is worth more than the largest trust fund. Regardless of your financial state right now, you have this same opportunity to leave a legacy for your children, nieces and nephews that is beyond measure.
10. You can enjoy all the benefits and blessings of God with a marriage restored.
Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. Malachi 2:15
Why is the one thing that you desire the most in last place? If your spouse came home today, how many years could you enjoy together before one of your deaths separated you again? Fifty? Twenty? Two? Can you see that even your marriage, measured by eternity, is only a flash? On the other hand, your prodigal reaching Heaven, your faith, your witness, your legacy, will all have benefits long after all of us have gone to glory. It has been said that if we take care of the small things, the big things will take care of themselves. If you can keep the first nine items, as given above, in proper perspective, number ten, the “big thing†for you right now, will be taken care of, not by itself, but by our Mighty God. Keep standing strong.
Click here to read part 1 of this devotional.
Because He lives,
Bob Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
