OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH 2024
THEME: MARRIAGE - A BLESSING OR A CURSE?
MEMORISE: And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Genesis 2:18
READ: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
MESSAGE
Today, divorce rates are as high as 50% in some countries, and some people believe that they are better off not being married. This brings up the question, is marriage a blessing or a curse?
Some people argue that marriage is a curse because if Eve was not created, and marriage was not instituted in the first place, there would be no sin in the world. Adam also seemed to believe this theory because he blamed God for giving him Eve when he was asked why he ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:12). However, we must remember that Adam was alone, and God created Eve for his good. Everything was going well until sin came in. So, Eve was not the problem, the problem was sin.
Marriage can either be a blessing or a curse, depending on what either of the couple allows into their union. If marriage is done in line with God's word, it will be a blessing. However, if either of the couple goes outside the will of God and let’s sin in, there will be trouble. Today makes it 57 years since I have been married, and 1 can tell you without a doubt that my marriage became a blessing when my wife and I gave our lives to Christ and started living according to His will. Before then, we would have disagreements that would last for weeks, but these stopped when we surrendered to Christ.
I recall the story of a couple who fought every single night. One day, someone invited them to a RCCG parish in their city, and when an altar call was made, they gave their lives to Christ. Over the next three weeks, their neighbors didn't hear them fighting. Curious, the neighbors asked the couple why they had not been
fighting. They replied that they had brought Christ into their marriage, and He was the reason they stopped fighting. If your marriage is to be a blessing, you and your spouse must truly be born again, living according to God's word. You and your spouse should study the Bible, pray, and evangelize together. You should both be on fire for God. When you do these regularly, you will discover how beautiful marriage is. I am enjoying my marriage, and I pray that you will enjoy yours too, in Jesus' name.
ACTION POINT
you are married, ensure that you surrender your marriage completely to God.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Obadiah 1
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 16: TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS
1 ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
2. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
3. Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
4. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
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