In our ministry we counsel a lot of couples who are married or getting ready to “take the plunge.” We hear their stories week after week. And we share our story of God’s redemption in return.
Over the years we’ve heard a lot of confessions in those meetings. We’ve heard confessions of women who gave themselves away in a desperate attempt to be loved. They may not have wanted to, but they gave away their bodies in sin. No matter how many years have passed, they are still carrying the weight of those mistakes and the scars of sin, often leading them into the same situation in other relationships.
We have also heard endless confessions of men who were exposed to pornography or sexual sin at a young age. Those images and experiences took root in their minds and led to porn addictions, masturbation, and sex outside of marriage.
Whether it’s a man or woman, they come wounded. They come to the relationship defiled.
“Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you…” Matthew 15:17-20
At the point of marriage the great deceiver convinced them that marriage would fix their problem with sin. The truth is, sin is rottenness in our bones. Sin will corrupt our spirits and erode our marriages. Sin will take you where you never wanted to go. And it will lock you in places you never wanted to stay.
Sin promises pleasure, but it only gives destruction. Rather than being characterized by joy, our lives are filled with anger, discontentment, and more sin.
There is only one solution for sin. His name is Jesus.
The message of the Messiah promised the coming of one who would bring healing and freedom.
The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. Isaiah 61:1-2
Of all the passages of scripture that exist, Jesus began his ministry with that one.
The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”
Today if you find yourself drowning in circumstances and your marriage falling apart let me tell you this, your spouse isn’t to blame, sin is. Your spouse can’t fix the problems. Marriage won’t solve anything. But the one who said he will bring good news and set us free can. He will. He is only waiting on you to invite him in.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 7:28-30
Invite Jesus into your life and into your home. He is the solution.
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