Wednesday December 30, 2009

Malachi 1-2; Psalm 149; Proverbs 31:10-24; Malachi 2:13-16

We wouldn’t necessarily expect practical romantic advice from a prophet, yet here it plainly sits: guard yourself in your spirit. For the married, this certainly means to guard yourself against being unfaithful to your spouse, both in act and in thought. Do you interact with coworkers and friends of the opposite sex in a way that honors your God and your covenant with your spouse? For the single, this passage clearly lays out the sacred nature of marriage and begs two responses: 1) be patient, seek counsel and pray for wisdom in seeking a mate for you will be one flesh and one spirit before God and 2) guard yourself in your spirit before you’re married – guard your physical purity, of course, but guard your emotional purity as well. Just as you wouldn’t over-expose your body, don’t overexpose your heart or expect the one you’re dating to do so, but rather save your emotional intimacy for your spouse as well.