Apr 15 Deuteronomy 23, Deuteronomy 24, Deuteronomy 25:1-19 Luke 16:19-31, Luke 17:1-10 Psalm 45:10-17
Deut 24:5
“When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be liable for any other public duty. He shall be free at home one year to be happy with his wife whom he has taken.
What a great law. To those who are looking to get married – this law doesn’t exist in the modern world… but it’s a great principle for you to apply. Don’t spend the start of your marriage away from home a lot. It’s not healthy for either of you. I know in many cases you do not have a choice when it comes to work (I, myself have been in that position and it’s very difficult) – but when you aren’t working – devote your time to your wife. She needs to know that she’s important. She comes above your hobbies and your sports teams… if all you have free is weekends, spend them with her. (that’s not an excuse to skip church – that’s something you can do together) – the early days of a marriage are very important and you only get once chance to build foundations.
Luke 17:1-4
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Temptation will some. That’s a certainly. We know this because Jesus said it. But here’s an interesting one – woe to the one through whom they come!
We cannot give sin any room to move in our own lives or in the lives of others. If what we do tempts someone else to sin, we need to watch it. Leading someone into sin brings judgement upon you. This is why Paul talks about, even if something is not sin to you but is to someone else that you take care not to make them stumble. We have freedom – but if that freedom causes someone else to sin it needs to be curtailed.
And if someone sins against you and repents – you MUST forgive. MUST. That means it’s not optional.
