Verse of the Day – Malachi 2:16

“I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel, …”So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.”

—Malachi 2:16

Thoughts on Today’s Verse…

My heart breaks for those who hear these words of this verse and feel a shattering in their souls because of what they have endured. God hates the pain, damage, loss, sorrow, and physical damage you carry. We mourn with those who had to leave their marriage to find spiritual, emotional, and physical protection. In our throw-away world, God hates when people are abandoned and when we break our lives through our unrighteous behaviors. We want our spirits to be holy. We don’t want our hearts corrupted by selfishness and resentment. We choose NOT to break faith by treating those closest to us with contempt, neglect, or abuse. When people are broken by what causes divorce and the consequences of it, let’s find them, include them, and bring them home to God’s family for healing. Let’s especially be sensitive and supportive of children caught between divorcing parents. Let’s remember that God hates divorce and what causes it, but he does not say, “I hate the divorced.” All sin is forgivable when we genuinely repent and reorient our lives to God (1 John 1:5-10, 2:1-2).

My Prayer…

Almighty God, please make our words strong, our commitments lasting, and our lives faithful to our promises to you and each other. Bless those whose hearts have been shattered by spouses who have treated them unfairly, abusively, and unfaithfully. Thank you for the beautiful examples of many who have had strong marriages. Thank you for those who have stumbled but come back to you, confessed their sins, and gone on to build godly relationships and marriages. Please bless me and my house with a legacy of faithfulness that lasts generations after us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today’s Verse are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@verseoftheday.com.

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