Week of 7.3.2022 | Day Three
The Seventh Commandment is meant to protect the covenant (or promise) between one man and one woman to love each other with a special, focused love for their whole life. We are to remain faithfully committed to the person we marry and not seek this kind of special relationship with other people outside the marriage or desire to be married to other people. Within this command to honor marriage, we see it is also a command to live a pure and faithful life. It applies to every one of Yahweh’s image bearers, young or old, male or female, single or married. Just like the Sixth Commandment, obedience to this commandment begins in the heart.
We understand that this commandment might be a difficult one to talk about based on your circumstances. If you or your kids have been hurt by an imperfect marriage or divorce, we know how difficult that can be. Remember God’s faithful love for you, even in the difficulty. Take time to pray and ask God to help your family see how He is gracious and forgiving. Ask God to give you a view of marriage as He intended and to see His faithfulness to you, even when people fail.
Read
Revelation 19:6-9, and 21:1-8
Discuss
John witnesses a beautiful celebration taking place in heaven. This celebration is the marriage feast of the Bridegroom or the Lamb (Christ) and the bride (the Church) coming together for eternity. Anyone who has put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior is part of the Church, the bride of Christ. In this celebration, a new heaven and new earth appear, and the bride gets to dwell with the Bridegroom in perfect peace and fullness of joy, delighting in Him for eternity!
Help your kids understand this passage by asking them a few questions.
John describes hearing something like the voice of a great multitude. What did it sound like?
What are the voices saying?
What did John see in 21:1 and why was it there?
Who is the bride and who is the groom in these verses?
What is not in this scene (look at v. 4)?
What will marriage look like in heaven?
Marriage will be different in heaven, for the purpose of faithful unity for eternity. We will not be married to other people, but we will be married to Jesus Christ, the perfect spouse. We will be one with Christ, without any sin or possibility for impurity, unfaithfulness, or dissatisfaction! That is why God wants to protect marriage with the Seventh Commandment. He wants to make marriage on earth as it will be in heaven.
Pray
Take time to pray, reflecting on all that you read today about the marriage celebration that will take place in heaven someday.
Family Challenge
Discuss ways your family can be faithful to honor Christ by being part of the church. What does that look like for your family? Some examples might be taking the steps toward membership, serving, tithing, seeing needs and helping meet them, and finding other ways to use your gifts for the glory of God.