Honor Marriage

Week of 7.3.2022 | Day One

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.

Sing

Great Is Thy Faithfulness
The Worship Initiative
Listen

Wholly Yours (Ephesians 3:18-19)
Shane and Shane, Kingdom Kids
Watch

Read

Exodus 20:14

Discuss

Explain what this commandment means.
Marriage is a very beautiful and special relationship that God designed to be between one man and one woman. When a man and a woman get married, they become one flesh, creating a family. In this commandment we see that God does not want married people to split up the family or to go looking to have the same special relationship that exists between a husband and a wife with other people. If that happens, it is adultery. If we become impure or unfaithful by committing adultery, this causes hurt and harm to the person we promised to love and protect. It also causes hurt and harm to anyone else in the family. God wants us to protect the family by keeping this commandment to honor marriage.

Explain what it means to be faithful.
Faithfulness is being true to your word or your promises. God is faithful and always keeps His promises.

How can you live pure and faithfully now, even before you are married? 

Pray

Take time to pray together, thanking God for caring about marriage and our relationships with each other. Ask God to help you live faithfully as He is faithful.

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.