Today in the Word for September 30-October 4
Today in The Word
Monday Sept 30, 2019
When did the idea of marriage as an institution begin? Welcome to the word with Pastor David. According to scripture, after the creation of Adam and then Eve, the very first thing mentioned includes Genesis 2:23-24:
““This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man.”
This is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
The leaving of our family of origin, and being united, (or cleaving) to one’s spouse is a beautiful description of marriage. It is a statement of how a new family unit is formed.
As we can see from the Word, the institution of marriage is launched as soon as creation is complete. Those that would like to say that the institution of marriage is just a Western culture invention are not taking the Bible seriously. God thought it was so important, he invented marriage as soon as there were people! So, shouldn’t marriage be important to us also?
And that’s the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Tuesday Oct 1, 2019
If marriage is such an important institution to God, what are the key components of it? Welcome to the word with Pastor David. According to scripture, after the creation of Adam and then Eve, Genesis 2:24 states:
This is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
This verse is so important, it is quoted again by both Jesus and Paul in the New Testament. The statement contains three important components of marriage. The first is the phrase, ‘leaves his father and mother.’ This is the ‘leaving’ or wedding event part of a marriage. It is the announcement to everyone that a new family unit has begun. People who just say they are married in their hearts are missing this key legal and spiritual covenant event. The wedding, no matter how simple or elaborate, no matter whether done in a church or under the open sky, is a marker that we have made promises to each other in front of witnesses and we are now in a formal commitment to each other.
According to The Word a wedding is a critical part of a marriage. The first thing a man and woman need to do is ‘leave.’
And that’s the Word from David Baker of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday Oct 2, 2019
What excuses do we offer to justify cheating on our spouse? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. One excuse we tell ourselves is that we did not find our true soul mate is our marriage. Therefore, we have got to go out and find the one perfectly created for us. Yet Malachi 2:13-15 reads:
“…You weep and wail because [God] no longer looks with favor on your offerings…You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.
Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit…So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.”
We delude ourselves that there is one perfect creation out there for us, but God states that he created us—body and spirit. And we made a covenant—which is more than just a contract with our spouse. That vow takes priority over all others. Our spouse is the right one for us precisely because we made such an important covenant with them on our wedding day.
So, we are to be on our guard against such rationalizations. We are to be faithful to the one we married.
And that’s the Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly. Join our Wednesday adult Bible Study at 6:30 for more of the Word.
Today in the Word
Thursday Oct 3, 2019
What excuses do we offer to justify cheating on our marriage? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. One excuse we tell ourselves is that we really work hard, and we deserve a diversion. Genesis 2:24 describes marriage:
“…and they become one flesh.”
This is speaking to the passionate, or sexual side of marriage. We are ‘one flesh’ with our marriage partner. Why would we steal from that passion? We read books or watch movies or view porn that meets our desire for passion rather than look to our mate. We tell ourselves these are just enticing diversions, and no one is harmed. We are not really doing anything. Yet Jesus states strongly in Matthew 5:27-28:
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
What we think about matters very much. We can cheat on our rightful passion with our marriage partner by these sexy diversions. After all, any wrong action starts in the mind before it ever becomes an action. Watch out for this lie. Do not steal passion from your spouse.
And that is the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Friday Oct 4, 2019
One lie we tell ourselves when our marriage is in trouble is, ‘My workmate is just a friend. There is no real danger to continuing this relationship.’ Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. The truth is that most affairs start with a friendship first. In fact, friendship is one of the key components of a marriage. Genesis 2:24 tells us that we are united with our spouse. This ‘cleaving’ to our mate is the relational or friendship part of our marriage.
When Solomon is warning his young prince about the wooing woman who is calling him to unfaithfulness to his wife, he states in Proverbs 5:8:
“Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house…”
Solomon is saying that there is no safe contact with this woman. My way of interpreting this for my life is to realize if there is a chemistry with another person. If I am attracted to them, then I do not go near. I keep my distance—even from forming a strong friendship. My wife is my best friend. I do not need another woman as my best friend. I already have one. And that keeps us safer.
And that’s the Word. You can enjoy more of the Word this Sunday at 10:45 at Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Monday Oct 7, 2019
One lie society tells us is that our sexual life is just a recreational part of our life. It doesn’t really matter much with whom. Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Yet scripture describes our sexual life in different terms than society has been. Proverbs 5:15-18:
“Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. ..may you rejoice in the wife of your youth…may you ever be intoxicated with her love.”
The point is plain. Sex is designed to be exclusive. It finds its power in the reality that we are only sharing this part of ourselves with one person. Sex with others weakens the power of sex. It dismantles the exclusive value of sex. Be intoxicated by just one person—your marriage partner. After all, sex is much more than mere recreation.
And that is the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.