GOD LOVES DIVORCED PERSONS, BUT HATES DIVORCE

WISDOM FOR LIVING DEVOTIONAL

SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

TOPIC: GOD LOVES DIVORCED PERSONS, BUT HATES DIVORCE

BY T. O. BANSO

“‘For I hate divorce!’ says the LORD, the God of Israel. ‘It is as cruel as putting on a victim’s bloodstained coat,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘So guard yourself; always remain loyal to your wife’” (Malachi 2:16 New Living Translation).

Divorce and divorcees are two different things. Certainly, God hates divorce, but He loves divorced persons. Jesus died for divorcees also (John 3:16). Many who have gone through a divorce often feel hurt by the scripture that God hates divorce or the way preachers and Christians often present it. But the truth remains that God hates divorce.

“‘For I hate divorce!’ says the LORD, the God of Israel. ‘It is as cruel as putting on a victim’s bloodstained coat,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘So guard yourself; always remain loyal to your wife’ (Malachi 2:16 New Living Translation). God hates divorce because it’s cruel, as stated in this scripture. Avoid dealing treacherously with your spouse or breaking his/her heart.

I don’t think any reasonable person would go into marriage expecting the marriage to fail. But some things happen to people that they never anticipated.  What does a spouse do when his/her partner is doing everything that will make their marriage fail?

What does a spouse do when his/her partner files for divorce? What does he/she do when the partner deserts the marriage? Some deserts physically. Some deserts spiritually and emotionally! How does a spouse continue to live with an unrepentant, serial adulterer/adulteress or one who cruelly abuses him/ her physically? Should he/she stay and die in the marriage?

Jesus permits divorce on the grounds of sexual immorality (Matthew 19:9). Paul says if a non-Christian spouse insists on leaving his/her Christian partner, he/she should be allowed to go. The Christian spouse is also free to go because God wants His children to live in peace (1 Corinthians 7:15).

Some people are not responsible for the divorce they went through. They’re victims/survivors. Don’t be judgmental. You don’t have all the details. Nobody prays for divorce. It has terrible effects, especially on the divorced and their children. Divorced people suffer loneliness, rejection, withdrawal, depression, financial hardship, etc. Nobody wishes these for himself/herself, but when there is divorce, the divorced face these and more.

According to the Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development, “Children of divorce are more likely to experience poverty, educational failure, early and risky sexual activity, non-marital childbirth, earlier marriage, cohabitation, marital discord, and divorce.” Are these not enough reasons for one to hate divorce? God wants the marriage to produce godly children (Malachi 2:15).

Whether someone was divorced before or after he/she gave his life to Christ, divorce is not the end of life. God loves divorced persons. He has not cancelled His purpose for their lives. A guilty divorcee should ask for God’s forgiveness and forgive himself/herself. The aggrieved person should forgive his/her former partner and himself/herself. The two need to forgive each other for the mistakes they’ve made.

Divorcees don’t need condemnation. They, probably, already know where they’re wrong. The church and society should show them love, understanding, and support. There is life after divorce. God is the God of redemption. Jesus is the healer. Divorced persons should move close to Him and be healed emotionally. God’s thoughts towards them still remain thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give them a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The LORD be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, heal the wounds of every divorcee, and give them joy. Save marriages that are at the brink of collapse. Help husbands and wives to live peacefully according to Your Word.

(For over 300 in-depth and powerful messages by T.O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org)

T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org