A Facebook question popped up on my Facebook awhile back: “What do you think about having a male friend apart from your husband? Vice versa too? Can it be a purely platonic relationship?”I was grieved in my spirit by the answers to this question. Most answered saying they thought it was healthy and beneficial to have friends of the opposite sex who were not their husband.
I beg your pardon! What has happened to God’s ideal of marriage? What has happened to the sacredness of marriage? What has happened to keeping true to our solemn marriage vows?
The minister asks the couple to repeat: I, ________, take thee ________, to be my wedded husband/wife, to have an to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, and FORSAKING ALL OTHERS, BE FAITHFUL ONLY UNTO HER/HIM ’til death do us part, according to God’s ordinance; and thereto I PLEDGE THEE MY TROTH.”
I guess that many have never heard the last phrase, “pledge thee my troth.” but I love these words. They were always part of the original marriage vows. The word “troth” means to pledge lifelong faithfulness, truthfulness, loyalty, and fidelity.” Troth not only rhymes with oath but is a synonym of oath.
We know that “forsaking all others,” means to keep sexually pure in marriage. But I believe it means more than that. It means forsaking PERSONAL friendships with the opposite sex. I don’t care what all these other folk say, it is not God’s plan for marriage. Now that doesn’t mean you can’t have friendship with men. My husband and I have many friendships with couples and families together. We have given ourselves to hospitality through the years and we enjoy the rich blessing of many couples at our table as we enjoy friendship together.
But I wouldn’t dream of going out to eat or going somewhere on my own with the husband of one of those couples. Why do I need to do that? Why do I need another guy apart from my husband? I have vowed to forsake all others and be faithful only unto him—sexually, emotionally, mentally, and because of my scared marriage vows. Marriage is exclusive, not only physically, but also emotionally.
And how does this affect our children and the next generation? I recently asked some young people: “How would you feel if your father or mother went out on their own with someone of the opposite sex?” They were aghast. They said it would make them feel very insecure. One girl mentioned that one time she was coming home from work and saw her mother with another man in the car. Her heart fell. She arrived home to find that her mother was taking the builder home who was working on the house! But just seeing another man in the car devastated her.
Blessings to you today,
Nancy Campbell
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GOD NEVER CHANGES
Why do we like to grumble and complain? It never accomplishes one thing! Only negativity and destruction. Change your attitude today and look up. When you praise the Lord good things start happening. Have a great day. As my husband says to us every morning: “May this be the best day of your life so far!”
Praise God, we don’t have to live in the dark. God shows us clearly in His Word how he wants us to live as a married couple. The Bible tells us that we the husband and wife are both to show honor to one another. Let’s check this out, shall we?
In what capacity do you like to introduce yourself? Some folks may introduce themselves as a teacher, singer, nurse, lawyer, or even a mother. Many pastors like to introduce themselves as Pastor So and So. They make sure they precede their name with the word, Pastor!
All the good things that are in Jesus Christ are available to you right now. Not some day in the future, but RIGHT NOW! I know that life is not always perfect when you are mothering your children. You don’t have enough fingers to count how many things go wrong throughout the day. But don’t despair. Jesus Christ is with you. He lives in you. You don’t have to react to these things in your flesh. Instead, allow Jesus to live His life through you.
I have a question for you. Do you think it is possible to “glorify God in your body” if we tamper with the way God created us?
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree it will spend the rest of its life thinking it’s an idiot.” Albert Einstein.
Writing about parenthood, the great preacher and writer, J. R. Miller says: “Duties cannot be transferred.” I happen to agree with him, although many modern Christians would not.
Do any of you read THE DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH for your Family Devotions? We read it each morning and evening around our table. Although, for a change, we are currently reading a chapter of the book of Revelation each evening.
Did you know that God has appointed you to be a watchwoman over your home? Proverbs 321:27 says: “She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness.”
When you have an opportunity to go out to enjoy yourself, who do you want to go with? Do you want to go with girlfriends? Or your husband? We always want to go with our best friend, don't we?
Are you looking forward to meeting with God’s people this weekend? The assembling of ourselves TOGETHER is a priority for believers.
It adds another dimension to the meal when we sit at an attractively set table.
Sometimes we don’t make our meal table very orderly, do we?
God hovers over mother. He is with you from the beginning to the end. Are you waiting to give birth to a baby soon? God will be with you in your birth. David confesses in Psalm 22:9: “Thou art He that took me out of the womb.” Many translations say, “You brought me safely from my mother’s womb.” Whether you are having your baby at home or in a hospital, put your trust in God. He is the one who brings the baby safely from the womb. He is hovering over you for the life of your baby. Trust Him.
“Strength and dignity are her clothing” (Proverbs 31:25). Inwardly and outwardly. Dignity is being lost today. Let’s hold it fast.
In my Bible reading the other morning I read the blessing God gave through Moses to the tribe Issachar. He told them they were to rejoice in their homes (Deuteronomy 33:18). The word for homes is “ohel” and it means “a covering, a dwelling place.” It can be used of a hut or a palace! It speaks of a home for animals or for a king (namely, David’s palace)!
The magazine, Above Rubies, is for all women (and men love to read it too). However, I believe it is especially essential for the precious young mothers of this generation as they in the overwhelming time of raising their little ones.
Little faces at my place;