Just finished this book my friend gave me to read.
The only takeaway that stood out to me after reading this was:
And it was a quote by C.S. Lewis.
The first sentence is now written out and placed on my quiet time table so I can remind myself of this during 2020 of my theme to “Fear God and Live.”
You would think the word covenant was a cuss word. So I am learning that He’s the only one I want to please. He’s the only one I will stand before to give an account for what I did with what He told me to do.
I must remember, I am not concerned with making an impression on people.
I am concerned firstly with obedience to the Lord and secondly with a nation turning back to God in this area.
It’s loving God and loving others….the basic command.
Upon looking back, I want to highlight other nuggets I took from this book.
The Bible begins and ends with marriage.
It’s hard to get a good perspective on marriage, because we see through a distorted lens of our own experience.
The gospel helps us to understand marriage and marriage helps us understand the gospel.
The divorce rate is nearly twice the rate it was in 1960.
In 1970, 89% of all births were to married couples, but today only 60% are.
72% of adults were married in 1960, but only 50% in 2008.
Today more than 1/2 of people live together before marriage. In 1960, virtually no one did.
Longitudinal studies show that 2/3 of unhappy marriages will become happy in 5 years if people stay married and don’t get divorced.
Children who grow up in married, two parent families have 2-3 more times more positive outcomes than those who do not.
This is the secret. The gospel of Jesus and marriage explain one another. Mutual sacrifice. Jesus gave His life. We give ours. The gospel gives the power and pattern for marriage.
The fear of the Lord is linked with great joy.
Smedes answers that we are largely who we become through making wide promises and keeping them. (I LOVE THIS SO MUCH.)
Think of an old bridge over a stream. Imagine that there are structural defects in the bridge that are hard to see. There may be hairline fractures that a very close inspection would reveal, but to the naked eye there is nothing wrong. But now see a ten-ton Mack truck drive onto the bridge. What will happen? The pressure from the weight of the truck will open those hairline fractures so they can be seen. The structural defects will be exposed for all to see because of the stain the truck put on the bridge. Suddenly, you can see where all the flaws are. The truck didn’t create the weaknesses; it revealed them.
Godly tantrum. Not to shrink from telling the truth to others. An unrelenting insistence on being heard. She was intense and laser focused…but not in a rage or out of control emotionally. (His wife smashing China to get his attention when he wasn’t listening.)
The only thing I wouldn’t agree with was Keller’s understanding on grounds for remarriage after divorce as spoken of on page 299 in his “note” section.
I wouldn’t interpret Paul saying “you are not bound” in 1 Cor 7:15 as meaning you can remarry.
When we interpret scripture, it needs to be in light of all scripture. Paul said a few verses later in 1 Cor 7:39 “a wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whomever she wishes, but only in the Lord.”
He mentions Jay Adams saying “Why should divorce be the only unpardonable sin?”
Sounds nice, but that doesn’t make it okay to remarry.
It’s like saying homosexuality is a sin, but I can be in a homosexual relationship as long as I ask for forgiveness.
Since the Bible says that the marriage is a covenant until death, then any remarriage while the spouse is alive would be adultery.
Yes, you can be forgiven. Of course. The only unforgivable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31)….or you can remain unforgiven from the verse “if you don’t forgive, then God won’t forgive you.” (Matt 6:15)
But that doesn’t give you a license to remarry. Which is why I think the word “Covenant” sounds like I’m cussing in people’s ears.
But it’s the most beautiful word in my ears. It is lasting until death do we part, through thick and thin, sickness and health….
And how much greater the covenant with God that remains forever.
