Becoming Pure in Heart - 335-344

335.  Does the Bible give counsel on marriage?

• Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
• Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
• Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing , and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
• Ecclesiastes 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
• Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
• 1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives;

Dearest Father, You gave humanity the holy institution of marriage before sin entered the world. It is in Your divine plan that a man and woman be joined in holy matrimony and become a one flesh unit. Enable me to appreciate this gift of love and companionship and nurture it. Give me divine love for my spouse that I may fulfil Your plan in my life. Give me commitment, fidelity and sacrificial love for my spouse, for the rest of my life.

336.  How deeply are husbands and wives to love each other?

• Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
• Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
• Ephesians 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
• Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
• Ephesians 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
• Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Dear Lord, You have given us a divine model for the marriage relationship. Truly one cannot have a successful marriage without Your spiritual influence in our hearts. Empower me, Lord, to be the loving, caring spouse You want me to be. Let me give up my demands and desires as is necessary for the mutual harmony in the home. Give me the spirit of Jesus in my marriage relationship, that my love may be sanctified in You.

337.  Is divorce displeasing to God, and should it be avoided?

• Malachi 2:14, 16 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
• Matthew 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
• Mark 10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
• Mark 10:12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
• 1 Corinthians 7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

Dearest Loving Lord, You hate the spirit of strife and divorce, the separation of what You have joined together. You strongly declare that no one is to break up a marriage. You want marriage to stay in tact and not be broken apart. Lord, only if one partner chooses the path of adultery, breaking the marriage vow, can the innocent party rightly consider a divorce. But even then You would be pleased with a forgiving spirit and saving the marriage. Show me how, Lord, to do what I can to strengthen my marriage commitment and help others to do the same.

338.  Has God warned me to turn away from the lusts of the flesh, which are ungodly sensual desires?

• Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
• Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
• Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
• 1 Peter 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
• 2 Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

Dearest Lord, Your Word strongly admonishes me to avoid fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. This means that I need Your power in my life to subdue the forbidden cravings of my body and mind. You alone can keep me from sexual sin and sensual indulgence. Guard my eyes and ears, control my thoughts. Keep me away from anything that would arouse unholy desires. Give me wisdom to make wise choices in all my activities and friendships, that I may stay pure and holy for You. Strengthen me to crucify the flesh so it cannot speak to me.

339.  Does the Bible clearly teach me to flee from sexual impurity, even in my thoughts?

• Proverbs 6:32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
• Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
• Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
• Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
• 2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

Dear Lord God, You want me to have a pure heart, free from all lustful thoughts. And since this is Your will for me, It is also Your gift to me if I am willing to receive it. As You command me to abstain from immorality, that command contains a promise of empowerment. Lord, plant Your purity in my heart, that I may flee from all impure thoughts and suggestions of the enemy. Let me turn away from the low immorality and depravity of the world, and rise to live in the pure atmosphere of fellowship with Jesus.

340.  Since God requires sexual purity, will He give me power to keep my thoughts pure?

• 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
• 1 Corinthians 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
• 1 Corinthians 12:21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
• Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

Precious Lord, How marvelous is Your holy will, that desires my entire sanctification, cleansing me from all filthiness and impurity. You want to put lofty, uplifting thoughts in my mind, so that I am free from the bondage of lust. You are eager to give me genuine repentance for selfish lustfulness, and deliver me from base self-destruction. Regenerate my mind to the noble state You intended for humanity. Thank You, Jesus, for Your powerful purity.

341.  What does the Bible say about same-sex physical intimacy?

• Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
• Romans 1:26, 27 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
• 1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
• 1 Timothy 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
• Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Lord, Your Word is clear. Guide me not to be influenced by our immoral society. Enable me to declare Your Word and stand firm in Your truth at all costs.

342.  What does the Bible tell us about disciplining and training children?

• Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
• Deuteronomy 6:6, 7 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
• Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
• Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
• Colossians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Dearest Lord, Motivate me daily to place Your Words in my heart, and share them with my children. Teach me to live Your principles so my children can safely follow my example in whatever I do or say. Give me patience and tenderness in dealing with the little ones, so that my influence will be nurturing and inspiring to them. Show me how to reach out to the children in Your love and gentleness, Lord.

343.  How important is it for us to train our children in the ways of the Lord?

• Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
• Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
• Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
• Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
• Proverbs 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
• Proverbs 29:17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

Father in Heaven, Help me to understand the importance of godly discipline and correction for my children. Your Word gives timeless principles for training children that reveal divine wisdom. Teach me to follow Your counsel over the advice of worldly learned men who reject Your Word. Show me how to correct my children with Your Spirit and love, yet with firmness and consistency. Keep me from encouraging disobedience and rebellion because of my indolence or indulgence. Teach me how to be a better parent, Lord!

344.  Does God care about unborn babies?

• Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
• Psalm 22:10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
• Psalm 139:13-16 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
• Isaiah 44:2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
• Isaiah 46:3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

Father, before I was made, You knew me. You formed me in the womb and carried me out. Oh, such wonderful care You give to each soul! Praise You, Father, for the gift of precious life, for without life, I would not have been given the choice to receive Jesus. Thank You, Father, for allowing me to live, and for offering me the gift of eternal life!

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