Tuesday, 15 October, 2002

Text: Matthew 5:31-32



Pastor Al will be away from his computer Tuesday and Wednesday. We will be posting devotions from June of 2000 during those days.



It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife , let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.



You're probably wonder how in the world I'm going to use this as a daily devotion! I suppose I will start by asking why we don't abide by this "teaching from Jesus in Matthew's gospel." Not only that, why do those who claim to take the bible "literally" also put this aside. Could it be that we all realize that we live in a less than perfect world and divorce happens for many and various reasons? Or could it be that the religious leaders of Jesus day had a way of saying this divorce is okay and that one is not as though some may use divorce as they see fit for their own ends and it will be "blessed" by the leaders...and Jesus didn't buy the practice? Personally I come back to this passage whenever I hear "biblical literalists" spout off about the "abomination of homosexuality." How is it that we go about deciding what can be held among us and what need not be held among us anymore? In our world, that is not just as we might want it to be, we are called to still love - in an unbounded and merciful manner. The days of picking and choosing what we want to be right according to convenience and tradition does not serve the good news. The days of forgetting about the God's embrace of all who stumble and all who are sent out away from us is over. Now, we must ask how we are to have the Reign of God come to life here - in our brokenness so that all are free...in Christ to be wholly, holy in God's sight. As a divorced person, these few verses can sting. But as a child beloved by this God who calls me home in Jesus, I am a full citizen of God's Reign with all the rest of you. And all I can say to that is Praise be to God.



Connection: What are laws, mandates, uncrossable lines that need to be re-viewed as you walk through this day so that people might be given the power to live new lives? This doesn't mean - anything goes. It does mean we are free to live without excuses. The next time you think you have to offer an excuse for yourself, remember no excuse is needed to have a place within the family of God's beloved. Simple come.



O God of relationships and honor, remind us of what it means to faithful spouses and partners and friends. Remind us of what it means to honor those around us and cherish all the lives of the people you bring into our lives. Keep us walking along the way of your perfert rule that we might reflect the perfection of your eternal love. Amen.