Encouragement For Those Who Are Bound
Greetings sisters in Christ!
I pray the Lord give you strength to go through this life and His peace while we do!
This has been on my heart for a while and I hope it blesses those of you to whom it applies. I want to send encouragement to sisters who are bound...in marriage. Marriage to an unbeliever, a believer or a disobedient 'professed believer', whatever the case may be.
Let's read something in 1 Corinthians that sums up a lot of the issues with godly women who are married.
There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 1 Corinthians 7:34
How many of you women are nodding your head to this? How many of you sisters have compromised (which means sin) on the word of God in order to please your husband?
Marriage is a wonderful thing as we see in the garden that it was so from the beginning that God created a helpmeet for man. But when sin entered in, we see the utter destruction of this beautiful plan and it now becomes a battle of the flesh.
Let's go back and look at the full context of 1 Corinthians 7 in regard to the focus of our cares.
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; [30] And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; [31] And they that use this world, as not abusing it : for the fashion of this world passeth away. [32] But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: [33] But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. [34] There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. [35] And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. 1 Corinthians 7:29-35
And then in verse 40 he says:
But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
That refers to what he said in the beginning of the chapter, claiming that it's best not to marry.
My point is this...Paul warned us we would have issues in the flesh, and every married person would admit to that. Although marriage is a wonderful thing, brother Jim would agree, I would agree and all you who are married would agree; the flesh is a hard thing to tame in a marriage, even when both people are truly born from above and are serving the Lord. I know how trying the flesh can be in godly marriages so my heart goes out to those who are yoked to an unbeliever or disobedient 'professed' believer who's doing virtually nothing in the Lord. (That could make them an unbeliever.)
Back in our youth in Christ, brother Jim and I had a lot of fleshly problems...a lot. Just because you are born again doesn't mean the relationship mystically turns perfect and it never will be as long as we are trapped in these fleshly bodies BUT there is a consolation that other marriages don't have. I know if brother Jim gets in his flesh, he will eventually be convicted by the Holy Spirit to repent as He wants to please God. Not necessarily so for the marriage with an unbeliever / disobedient husband. A woman married to such man has many more trials than most other sisters because there may be very little peace in her home. He may be watching vile things on the tv or internet, getting drunk, spending all their money on foolish things, using coarse language, blasting music or radio talk shows, practicing pagan ways etc. She not only has to deal with all that day in and day out...she has to share the same bed with him.
And what we usually see, in situations like that, is a woman coming to the Lord and wanting to be obedient in all ways but the husband ends up wearing her down and drawing her back. She may begin dressing biblically and headcovering and notice he pulls away from her and won't go in public with her as much. Over time, he wears her down and her clothing slips a little here and there, the headcovering becomes smaller or only worn occasionally, she doesn't always look away from the more 'conservative' shows he watches and laughs at things maybe she shouldn't. This can happen in marriage of godly people, in the beginning as they are learning the truth, but nowhere near the extent as one with a disobedient / unbelieving husband that could last many years.
1 Peter 3 tells a woman to win her disobedient husband without a word, which is a very tall order; one that those of us who are in that position can understand. That's a lot of flesh killing to be done, day after day after day after day..
...sometimes without much relief. I feel for you sisters in that position and I don't want to weaken you with my empathy, instead I want to strengthen you and build you up. The Lord, obviously, has you there in that position and your mission field is great, yet with many trials. Trials, that if you remain strong on the Word, will make you stronger and able to deal with the treacherous issues you face. Every day that you remain strong in obedience, is one day more that your husband will see your faithfulness to God and that you won't be led away from Him. He will see a kind, loving, meek and quiet wife who has forsaken her feminism, is submitting, is helping him and through all this, glorifying God. This, over the years, may soften a hard heart for the truth.
Regardless of our situations, we can't be impatient as our Lord is not slack is He?
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9
He was patient with us, we should be patient with others. Now in saying all that, I encourage all sisters not to join anyone in sin. Married sisters, if your husband sins (regardless if he claims Christ or not), you are not to join with him or approve of it. Go about your life, living obediently for the Lord and allow him to make his choices, then pray. Remember, God sees everything. Brother Jim made a very encouraging audio about the eyes of God, you can listen to it <HERE>
There is hope for all as long as they are alive so be diligent in your life, shining truth, bringing honor and glory to our Father.
I hope this has encourage you, who are in such situations, to be strong.
We love you all, the brethren worldwide.
The grace of our Lord be with you.
Sister Deb
The biblical gospel...
https://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html