1Thessalonians 4:6 (NLT)
“Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before.”
As two people begin dating and spending more time getting to know each other, it can be a very special time. If things progress well and both people love the Lord, they can invite His blessing for unity and longevity in a powerful way. If, on the other hand, it becomes clear to either of them that they aren’t on the same page when it comes to a deeper commitment, they can pump the breaks and give themselves time to reassess the relationship. They can avoid causing injury to one another, to their own lives, and most importantly, they can avoid causing injury to their relationship with God.
Jesus Christ has given us special rights and privileges to preserve and increase our lives on earth, and then he spelled out an extremely important one in Matthew 16:19(NLT). He said “And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” Earth is the natural realm, and the Kingdom of Heaven is the supernatural realm of God. It’s not complicated to understand that the Kingdom of Heaven is more real than anything in the natural realm, because the Kingdom of Heaven will never cease to exist. Earth, however, is a temporary dwelling that our Heavenly Father created for our habitation. It will at some point in its history cease to exist as we know it.
The keys that Jesus Christ has given us are those that unlock things in such a way that they are in agreement with heaven and will materialize on earth. Through our faith, we will literally transfer Kingdom realities into the natural realm of our existence on this planet. Through our faith in God, we can block the entrance of the wrong thing from coming into our lives, and we can grant the right thing full access. In relationships, these keys are astoundingly beneficial, and we must use them wisely, with the upmost respect and reverence. In order to do this, our use of discernment is crucial.
The psalmist prayed in Psalm 119:125(NLT), “Give discernment to me, your servant; then I will understand your laws.” This is a very important prayer for all of us, but especially to those that desire to partner in marriage. Often, single people do not give themselves the gift of waiting while they discern if the person that they are with is the one God has sent or if it is a person sent by satan to trick them and ruin their lives. Our Heavenly Father did not rescind or withdraw the gift of free-will from Adam and Eve when they made a colossal mistake. We need to understand that He will allow us to force our own wills and make our own choices even if it means we will make a mistake that is against His Will for us. If we are wise, we will not do this, but instead we will yield to Him as He helps us to properly discern.
When God unveiled His judgment against His people for their rebellion, through His prophet, He asked in Amos 3:3(NLT), “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” The answer is obviously no, but it goes a bit deeper than that. Agreement on the number of children you’ll have, where the family will live, and other details like this are of course important, but those details are not the kind of agreement that God is referring to in this verse. Our Heavenly Father is a God of order and peace. He tells us so in 1Corinthians 14:33. He doesn’t abide in chaos or confusion, and He will not put us in a marriage where agreement with His Word is not going to be a priority. To be on board with His Will and plan for us, we should only want what God wants us to have.
Walking together is not hard. God never intended it to be, but if a couple is not moving under His guidance and direction, they may agree in the very beginning, but it will not hold up. Many women make concessions and excuses for the men they are with when they know deep down it is not a relationship sanctioned by God. It didn’t begin that way and it won’t end that way. Do yourself a great favor and always take the time to pray, discern, and be clear that you are with the person God sent. If you are not sure, be patient until the Lord confirms it. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Walking Together Is Not Hard”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack and KLizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2023. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.