We were "that couple".. the one serving the Lord, useful in our community, living out the truth of God's Word in our home, and faithful to our church testimony. We were interested in spreading the gospel and demonstrating the love of God to others. Satan doesn't go after the quiet christians that pose no threat to his evil schemes. He wants to take down those that are building up God's kingdom, and destroy their usefulness to the Lord. One specific area of attack is on a godly marriage, which is just what happened to us.
Is it worth living for the Lord if we are opening ourselves up to attack from Satan? Is it better to just lay low and keep quiet about the gospel and how God works in our lives? If we are silent and not living a testimony for Jesus, we lose eternal rewards. That is a pretty high price to pay for momentary "peace". We hold knowledge of the most powerful truth there is- Jesus died to set us free from sin! Being active in God's work will always be the best path for our lives, no matter where it seems to take us on our journey. We CAN arm ourselves against Satan's attacks, knowing they will come. It's when we don't properly arm ourselves that we will quickly find ourselves in trouble.
Apart from personal daily scripture reading and prayer, what else can we do to protect our marriages? Do you read and pray with your spouse? Do you spend time together alone? Do you make each other a priority? Do you take vacations, just the two of you? Do you build one another up, and encourage each other? Do you seek the spiritual good of your husband or wife? Do you make intimacy a priority? Do you talk about your day in detail? When a spouse is not # 2 (# 1 is the Lord, not yourself;) there will be problems. If you assign yourself as #1, you are really in trouble. This is what happened in my marriage, and the sting of it hurts!
We live in a world that has distorted marriage. Our world is selfish and sinful, and its effects are felt in God's definition of marriage. Marriage isn't a "unless I find something I want more" kind of thing, it was meant for the remainder of our lives. The Bible specifically says that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). Marriage is a life long commitment, and one we should take seriously. Satan loves to pose situations and people as opposition to what God has planned for us. He offers a woman or man that SEEMS like a much better fit. If we are not armed with God's Word, and living in constant communication with Him, we open ourselves up to his evil plans for us. God's plans for us are good, but Satan's are evil. Why would we ever choose what isn't God's best for us? The results of giving in to Satan's evil plans are so far reaching, and traumatic to all involved. The price for this sin is so very high! Be on alert, dear friends! The damage to falling is ugly and painful, and completely avoidable! Tomorrow, we will touch more on how Satan blinds even believers to sin. But for today, let's look at these scriptures for help in arming ourselves against Satan's battle for our marriages, and our usefulness to Christ.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.1 Peter 5:8 ESV
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; Ephesians 6:16 ESV
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans 13:14 ESV
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:13 ESV
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV
Dear Heavenly Father, help us to guard ourselves, and arm ourselves against the attacks of Satan. We know they will come, and we want to be ready. Help us to have the courage to stand firm in our faith, and to stay committed to our marriages in a world that puts little value in what You ordained. Help us to recognize the voices that speak to us, and may Your voice always be louder than Satan's. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!
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