By: Juliet Constantine

“But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:31-32 NKJV)

Love is in the air. What is the color of love – is it red and white or just red? Valentines Day, and its flurry of commercial activities, has passed. Many new relationships have begun; many marriages solemnized. Still, many hearts were broken, many are hurting: many divorces have been sealed, signed, and delivered.

Like a tender plant, love sprouts; but, it's sometimes cut down before the early morning. Like grass, many have withered and have been left for dead; many may have only needed just a little water to let them bud again. Yes, in many instances, not enough effort is made to resuscitate the old garden; but, impulsive actions often lead to a new field being eyed, and great plans to mow the new lawn. Yes, love might have been in the air for many, but like grass withered away, many will not survive. The easy exit door of divorce will be seen as the best choice to make a clean break.

“Not so,” taught Jesus, “The only ground for divorce is sexual immorality.”

Not all divorced people are free to remarry. A divorce should not be sought because love has died. Water your garden and it will sprout again. A divorce may be pursued on the grounds of sexual immorality, and on this one ground only. In the sight of God, not all ‘marriages’ are valid based on Heaven’s standard code. In the same way, not all divorces are approved based on the same standard code. So, a married or divorced person may have one status on paper, but not so before God. It is in this context that Jesus cautioned His listeners to the reality that many are living in sin because they are victims of adulterous lifestyles resulting from broken marriages and breaching the seventh commandment.

Today, divorce is so common place. It would seem that not much thought goes into this process and the reality of the situation. Many victims are happy to be divorced for one reason or another, but not many realize that, based on Jesus’ explanation, they are not free to remarry. While in dialogue with a friend whose wife had divorced him for irreconcilable differences, he admitted that he wants to remarry but knows that he will be living in sin. He would be an adulterer: what he had never been in his many years of marriage. His story is not unique. Like many before him, and many who will come after his time, there is a choice to make – to live alone or remarry. But the real choice is whether or not to obey God or man.

Love can bloom again, if it’s God’s will. The grass will be green again if it’s watered. To those contemplating divorce or remarriage, let the Lord direct your path. Think of the eternal consequences of your action. Only proceed after you receive God’s stamp of approval. Think before you act.

The color of love is up to you and how you’ll decorate your life. Our experiences are all different because we are all different. Paint your love story to receive Heaven’s approval.

Father, we are forever indebted to You for the love You’ve shown. You never gave up on us. You choose life for life, the strength of blood to woo us back to You. We say thanks in Jesus’ name, amen.

Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)