"They will be won over by observing your...lives." 1 Peter 3:1-2 NLT
A shared faith is the glue that will hold your marriage together in times of trouble. But when one spouse is an unbeliever, it can be difficult for the other. Concerning marriage, Jesus said, "What...God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6). Notice the words, "What God hath joined together." Any relationship God puts together can go the distance. Speaking about a wife whose husband has died, Paul writes, "She is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord" (1Corinthians 7:39 NLT).
When your spouse doesn't share your faith, you can find yourselves tugging on opposite ends of the rope. Paul asks, "How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?" (See 1 Corinthians 6:15 NLY). An old country preacher put it bluntly: "Any time a child of God marries a child of the Devil, they're going to have trouble with their father-in-law!" Now, this doesn't mean one should love their unbelieving spouse less. Actually, it means you must love them more! Speaking of unbelieving spouses, Peter writes, "Even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your...lives."
There is "preventative medicine", and there is "corrective medicine." When Paul says not to marry an unbeliever, he's using preventative medicine. When Peter speaks about living with an unbeliever and winning them to Christ through your love and your lifestyle, he's using corrective medicine.
At the end of the day, there is only one thing that is guaranteed to work: "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 14:8 NKJV). So, fight for your marriage!
A shared faith is the glue that will hold your marriage together in times of trouble. But when one spouse is an unbeliever, it can be difficult for the other. Concerning marriage, Jesus said, "What...God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6). Notice the words, "What God hath joined together." Any relationship God puts together can go the distance. Speaking about a wife whose husband has died, Paul writes, "She is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord" (1Corinthians 7:39 NLT).
When your spouse doesn't share your faith, you can find yourselves tugging on opposite ends of the rope. Paul asks, "How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?" (See 1 Corinthians 6:15 NLY). An old country preacher put it bluntly: "Any time a child of God marries a child of the Devil, they're going to have trouble with their father-in-law!" Now, this doesn't mean one should love their unbelieving spouse less. Actually, it means you must love them more! Speaking of unbelieving spouses, Peter writes, "Even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your...lives."
There is "preventative medicine", and there is "corrective medicine." When Paul says not to marry an unbeliever, he's using preventative medicine. When Peter speaks about living with an unbeliever and winning them to Christ through your love and your lifestyle, he's using corrective medicine.
At the end of the day, there is only one thing that is guaranteed to work: "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 14:8 NKJV). So, fight for your marriage!
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