In Touch Daily Devotion

In Touch Daily Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 29, 2008 -- God's Warning About Relationships -- Ephesians 5:1-10 Because unbelievers lack an understanding of God's ways, their opinions and priorities can lead us astray. Christians must be very careful about the people with whom they intertwine their lives. To help us understand this principle, Paul asks us to consider what the following have in common with each other: righteousness and wickedness; light and darkness; Christ and Satan (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). The answer is obvious--nothing at all. Righteousness is the antithesis of wickedness; darkness flees the light, and Jesus Christ and the Devil are eternally opposed. Because of the difference in nature, believers likewise have nothing in common with unbelievers. Outwardly we're similar, but inwardly we are totally different. You may ask: 1. What if I am already married to an unbeliever? First Corinthians 7:13 advises that you remain married and be a sweet fragrance of Christ in your home. 2. Does the principle apply to business? It is unwise to enter into a partnership with an unbeliever, since you'll have different priorities and perspectives. If you already have an irrevocable arrangement with an unbelieving business partner, be Christlike in all you do. 3. Where else do I need to be careful? This wisdom also applies when you want to join organizations that oppose the mention of Christ's name or churches that fail to see the need for a personal relationship with Jesus. God's warnings are to be taken seriously, because He knows the future consequences of our mistakes.

Number 1 really resonates here with me because I began going to church and serving God with my whole heart 2 1/2 years before my husband began serving Him. My husband said that I could go to church as long as I did not talk about it. About 6 months ago he gave in to Jesus and now serves God at home and in our church as a teacher with me for 3-5 year olds. 1 Peter 3:1-2 says:" Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. " We are not to be yoked with unbelievers but if we already are and there is no Biblical reason for divorce, I believe it is wrong to leave your husband simply because He does not believe. Malachi 2:16 says "I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel... That makes it pretty simple. I guess I'm just saying that I agree with you Trish!!Hugs-Amy

You are so blessed to have a believing husband who is serving the Lord. It saddens me that my ex-husband stopped attending church altogether after he remarried. Plus, he married an unbeliever. It just blows my mind, because we were both very active in our church, teaching and serving in all capacities at one time. Count your blessings. Pray for your husband. Stormie O'Martian has a book called "The Power of a Praying Wife." I highly recommend it. I wish I had prayed earlier for my husband. Hugs, Trish

I love Stormies "praying" series. My daughter has "The Power of a Praying Kid" and I actually taught when I taught Wed nights for older kids. Hugs-Amy