Living In Peace When The Unbeliever Departs
Since Joyce Meyer’s TV broadcast message this morning applies to EVERYONE standing for marriage restoration, I STRONGLY suggest watching it AND putting what she teaches into practice, because they ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT principles of marriage restoration. One reason I say that is because she used a very familiar passage of scripture that took on a totally new meaning as I heard it again this morning, which was Ephesians 4:1-3. It says As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. The “bond of peace” just JUMPED out at me, because it seemed to confirm and further clarify my understanding of what 1 Corinthians 7:15-16 (NKJV) REALLY means, when it says But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? And then I couldn’t believe how clear it was as I put that together in my mind with 1 Peter 3:1-6, because all three passages confirm and tie into each other so perfectly that it’s difficult to understand how anyone can read them and not reach the same conclusion!
While keeping unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace by being humble and refusing to take offense, being gentle and quiet, being patient and bearing with each other in love are very important as we stand for the restoration of our marriages, humility and refusing to take offense does NOT come easily, which is why Luke 9:23 tells us Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Jesus knew we’d have to KILL our flesh daily if we want to follow Him and have EVERYTHING He came to give us, including abundant life, and that’s particularly difficult when the offense of adultery is not even a matter of debate. But we all have to decide how much we’re willing to pay for our right to be right and to defend and protect our pride. Basically, we have to decide if we’d rather be right or if we’d rather be happy, because way too often we prove we’re right at the cost of our own happiness.
The following verses are jus a few to keep in mind as we listen to and consider Joyce’s excellent message:
1 Peter 5:5-7
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Psalm 25:9
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
Proverbs 17:9
He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
Proverbs 19:11
A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
Isaiah 44:22
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
And here’s Joyce’s awesome message, Don’t Take Offense! Be blessed and encouraged to practice what Joyce teaches and the wise counsel of the above passages of scripture, because that’s the ONLY way to live in peace when the “unbeliever” departs (or leaves).