What is a crucial part of marriage? Well... there are many things that I could say, but I think that something that drives it and makes it truly strong is this - An undivided heart.
What is an undivided heart? An undivided heart is a heart that is united, it is not torn between two lovers, two choices, two decisions. It is single-minded in devotion and concentration. Can you imagine a marriage in which the husband or wife were undecided whether they liked their spouse or their friend more? It would be an ugly situation to walk into that's for sure! Bit of tension in that household! The reality is that this is actually more common than we might think, and so explains a little of the rate of divorce around the world. We never have any commitment to our decisions do we not?
I buy a shirt, which I don't like then take it back and get my money back. I make sure that in anything I sign there is a way out in case I get trapped. It is seen as wise to keep our options open, never realising that we are losing the incredible power of commitment.
The saddest thing of all is what this has done with our religion. That people choose one way, and without persevering they do not finish the race well, and then de-cry it as false and powerless, a religion for fools and sheep.
But really this is nothing new. After all God said the same to the Israelites in Ezekiel 11:19 "I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh". They were divided in their hearts about the Lord. Should they follow Him, or the baals? What is the good news? He knows us.
He knows that we cannot maintain commitment in ourselves, and that is why we need a new heart. The one that we have is weak. it is fearful, it is insecure. he promises a new heart, one of flesh not stone, and it is undivided in it's affection for Him.
How many times have we prayed and asked God to help us from our sin? The reality is that He can deliver us from sin, but we will find some other sin, some other lust, some other hate. The problem is ourselves. We are corrupted. But He has the answer! It is in Christ Jesus, when he rescued us from the cross He rescued us from ourselves and He promises a new life IN HIM! A new heart, a new mind. Without these, we will always go back to our old sin. no matter how many resolutions we make.
Ask God for a new heart, let our prayer be the same as David's "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:
A heart of love and trust in Him that is never to be put to shame!
I hope that your week is awesome!