Hi Ladies,
The phrase “Opposites attract” doesn’t just apply to opposites inside marriage. Consider that this also defines the most obvious of opposites who’re attracted to each other…men and women! You are already positioned as the Bride of Christ, but there may be significant earthly allures surrounding you. And since such attractions are designed by God, not surprisingly, they work exactly as He intended.
The enticements of the opposite sex can be strong, and they often require conscious restraint to resist, but resist you must until you are paired with Father’s intended mate. However, a big question, given the prevalence of charming options, may be which fellow He has planned for you. For many ladies, the husband that God has given her is her most special gift. But he must be the “right” one, the spouse whom the Lord Himself has designated. Otherwise, when individuals marry who are unsuited for each other, their wedded life can be uncomfortable at best, and a torment at worst.
Thousands of marriages take place every day, even when there have been outright warnings from Holy Spirit against them. Our Sovereign Lord will never allow you, His precious daughter, to enter a problematic union blindly, so if a particular guy has not been sanctioned by Him, there will have been danger signals along the way, which either went unnoticed or not heeded. No good can ever come from ignoring what Father has ordained for your life. And plenty of prayer and discernment is essential before hastily jumping at the “blessing” of a husband!
Recognizing and understanding biblical warning about men and relationships is a crucial subject to consider when anticipating a godly marriage. And there are ample instructions in the Word.
How to Discern God’s Man
You, woman of God, are truly special. Since the beginning of creation, with the celebrated arrival of First Lady Eve, you’ve always been a priceless blessing to the man who finds you, for as Proverbs 18: 22 declares, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord”. You are a gift from our Father to the man who wins your heart.
But there are dramatic and problematic concerns which arise when a woman is tempted to begin a relationship with some specific types of men, and these guys are amply warned against in the Bible. Unfortunately, however, marriage-ready ladies may experience uncertainty when these fellows show up. They can look good on the surface and might appear to be the answer to prayers, but they bring serious issues.
Primary among these issues is the urge to question God’s intentions, to doubt His Word, to disobey Holy Spirit, or to walk away from His promises. Not only should these men receive your closest prayerful scrutiny, they may simply be outright forbidden, with no compromise allowed. Who are these fellows, and how do you recognize them?
The Unsaved Man:
Let’s start with #1! 2 Corinthians 6: 14-16 admonishes, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.”
Any woman, when contemplating a specific suitor to assume the critical role of being her wedded mate for life, must recognize the vital importance of the question, “To whom does he listen and submit?” Only one who belongs to God will receive his directions from Christ Himself. And only such a man can be trusted, in turn, to be a reliable leader for you and your family.
Unfortunately, even when you clearly understand God’s warnings against marriage to a man who is not a Believer, unsaved men can prove to be an enormous temptation if allowed to gain a foothold. Especially as you’re expanding your activities, interesting and interested non-believers may be all around you, and they can appear to be far more readily available than the seemingly scarce-as-hen’s teeth single Christian guys.
To be continued next week…Joy and Shalom!
Jo Lynne Pool
jo lynne pool - Love in The Book.org 