First Things First
S. O. A. P.
Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!
S-cripture:
Deuteronomy 24:5
If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.
O-bservation:
This passage is one of the reasons marriage was so successful in Israel. To this day, marriage is still seen as a solemn vow between a man and a woman in Israel. Initially, a man was not required to do extensive or stressful labor in his first year of marriage. He certainly was released from going to war the first year. Instead, it was his duty as a young husband to spend time with his wife and care for her, love her, and learn to have fun together.
A-pplication:
In Jewish law, they decided to make “First Things First.” They postulated that if marriage is the foundation of the family, then it is also the foundation of a great society. For this hypothesis to hold, laws were established around it to ensure its success. They kept the most important bond in society strong, and consequently, the Jewish people have endured the greatest attacks in history. Compare that to what’s happening here at home. When half of all marriages end in divorce, then half of the young people being raised in homes today are battling issues of abandonment, betrayal, and rejection. Those are tough challenges for anyone to stand up to and successfully survive. What has happened? Marriage is no longer looked upon by large segments of society as Holy. Instead many couples go into marriage with the idea that if it works out that’s cool, if not we can just find someone else “to do life with.” When this happens, the sanctity of marriage is defiled, and with it, a society in time comes to ruin. What’s the answer? Only Jesus can work spiritual renewal in the lives of people to reverse this trend.
P-rayer:
Dear Jesus,
This AM, I’m reminded that my dear Robyn is still, after You, the First and most important gift in my life. With Your help, I’ll continue to make her first. Amen
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