Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? I Corinthians 7:8-16
In this passage we see God’s mercy, compassion and kindness. His mercy towards those who are single or widowed and need the companionship of a spouse. His compassion towards the unbelieving spouse knowing that the best Christian witness is the one who shared life together with them. His kindness towards the spouse who is rejected or abandoned, allowing them to find happiness in a new life.
The key phrase in this passage is “God has called us to live in peace.” The Lord gives spouses permission to separate in order to preserve peace. Often the simple absence of each other will draw the two together again. My mother used to say that we should treat our spouse as if they were exactly what we want them to be. This can often help the Holy Spirit form in them the qualities that we admire.
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