I Couldn't Post From The Courthouse

Here's what you missed:

4/29/09 - The Last Will Be First, and the First Will Be Last

Good morning family!  Guess where I am at?  Good old jury duty.  So I'm going to leave you with a prayer for today.  If you have your Bibles (if not you can go online to www.biblegateway.com) please feel free to read Matthew chapter 20 and we will begin to study it collectively tomorrow.  Have a wonderful day!

PRAYER: Thank You LORD for Your mercy and grace that surrounds me.  You are my true and only comfort.  Please forgive me for looking elsewhere when You are the only help that I need.  I won't let go of Your promise to me-Your promise to keep me and never forsake me; Your promise that the joy will always come in the morning, no matter how hard the day/night before was.  Your promise to love me forever, because You knew me even before I was formed in the womb.  I am of Your design-wonderfully and fearfully made.  Continue to teach me who You are and who I am in You.  I love You Father God.  In Jesus' name, amen.

4/30/09 -God's Grace:

PRAYER: Thank You LORD for Your instruction.  Let me seek it every day and let me desire to make it a priority in my life.  You wouldn't give us anything that didn't serve us well in living.  I pray that we collectively learn how to trust You and act in our Trust in You in every decision that we make.  Thank You for Your grace.  Your grace and mercy is amazing.  Thank You LORD.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

MATTHEW 20:1-16 part 1

THE PARABLE OF THE WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD: 

^{(Jesus Speaking to His disciples) 1}"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. ²He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. ³About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.

⁴He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' ⁵So they went.  He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. ⁶About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'

 ⁷'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. 

He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.'   ⁸"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.'  ⁹The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.  ¹⁰So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. ¹¹When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ¹²'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'

¹³But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius?  ¹⁴Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. ¹⁵Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' ¹⁶So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Do you ever compare yourself to other Christians or non-Christians?  Thinking that you're better because you believe in God?  Have you ever wondered or discussed the fact that someone that has lived a terribly selfish and evil life can be sitting on their deathbed and call on Jesus and be saved, while you lived the majority of your life trying to be obedient and both end up in paradise?  Being chosen by God is not a competition, it is a privilege.  We have to start seeing it this way.  It is because God loves every single one of us, He is going to be there when we call on Him in Jesus' name.  This does not give us license to live any way that we want because there are consequences (spiritual and physical) to our actions and there will be judgment in the end.  But God's grace does give us the opportunity to be forgiven and saved no matter what we have done in this life.  This should bring comfort to you. 

LEARN TO APPRECIATE GOD'S GRACE

Sacrifice & Eternal Rewards?

PRAYER: Good morning LORD.  No matter what is on my mind or what I am going through, today is a good day because You made it good.  I want to thank You LORD for dreams and ambition.  For placing the right desires on my heart and the clear direction in pursuing them.  Thank You Father God for the comfort that only You can provide when things don't seem to be going my way.  Thank You for providing that call, email, text, smile, hug, pat on the shoulder-whatever it is, in the right time.  Use me LORD to be that for someone else, as we're here to be a blessing to one another.  Thank You LORD for being an all-knowing God, that I can stand confident that where I lack, You've got everything.  And Your intentions towards me are always for the good, because You are a loving, kind, merciful and forgiving God.  You are awesome!  Thank You for life and most importantly the honor of serving You.  Bless You LORD.  In Jesus' name, amen.

MATTHEW 19:16-30 part 5

THE RICH YOUNG MAN: 

emphasis on verses 21-30

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

In the Bible, God gives reward to His people according to His justice.  In the Old Testament, obedience often brought reward in life (Deuteronomy 28), but obedience and immediate reward are not always linked.  If they were, good people would always be rich, and suffering would always be a sign of sin.  As believers, our reward is God's presence and power through His indwelling Holy Spirit.  Later, in eternity, we will be rewarded for our faith and service.  If material rewards in this life came to us for every faithful deed, we would be tempted to boast about our own achievements and act out of wrong motivations.  Jesus assured the disciples that anyone who gives up something valuable for His sake will be repaid many times over in this life, although not necessarily in the same form.  For example, a person may be rejected by his or her family for accepting Christ (yes, this still happens today), but he or she will gain a loving Savior and the larger family of believers.  Jesus turned the world's values upside down.  Consider the most powerful or well-known people in our world--how many got where they are by being humble, self-effacing, and gentle?  Not many!  But in the life to come, the last will be first.  Don't forfeit eternal rewards for temporary benefits.  Be willing to make sacrifices now for greater rewards later.  Be willing to accept human disapproval, while knowing that you have God's approval.

Wow!  I know I needed to hear this today!  How about you?

HOW IMPORTANT ARE HUMAN APPROVAL AND TEMPORARY BENEFITS IN COMPARISON TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?

Saved...

PRAYER: LORD, show us how to take our decisions more seriously.  No matter how big or small, to realize that our decisions matter.  Show us how to bless You LORD, to draw near to You in every way and to rejoice in You always.  I ask for Your Spirit of Wisdom rest on those who are helping Your children, I pray that Your Healing Spirit rest on those in the hospital and as Your Spirit is resting on us that Your glory is revealed and recognized within it all.  Let us praise Your name forever.  Hallelujah.  In Jesus name, amen.

MATTHEW 19:16-30 part 4

THE RICH YOUNG MAN: 

emphasis on verses 21-23

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Hello!  So I've given you some time (not purposely LOL, but maybe we needed it) to really dig deep into what Jesus has exposed to you.  What are your weaknesses?  Have you made any steps to do what God is telling you to do?  For me, I feel like some things are easier than others.  And sometimes, I wonder if I'm ever going to get it.  My mind is always running wild, and I sometimes act out of impulse instead of discernment.  But I can be thankful that God still wants to accomplish His plans through me.  And He is so patient with me.  Do you know how patient God is with us?  That He loves us unconditionally?  That He knows what we're going to do before we even do it?  There's no way we can disappoint God.  He knows who we truly are and calls us to Himself anyway.  How awesome is that?!?  With God everything is possible.  There is no limit to what our God can do.  Are you placing limits on God?  We usually do this, when we can't wait for His direction and instead do it our own way.  We're saying, "I can't wait for God,"  "He's not going to come through for me."  We have to build our faith in Christ, not in self or riches.  On what are you counting on your salvation?

DOES JESUS SAVE OR DO YOU SAVE YOURSELF?

Fighting

Tuesday, I went to a screening of the movie Fighting staring Terrance Howard and Channing Tatum.  I don't know what to say about it.  It seemed like a 12 year old wrote the script and directed it.  The voice coming from Terrance Howard was ridiculous, but now that I think about it, it had to be.  And some of the casting didn't make any sense to me.  It had me feeling like this was Channing's first movie.  It seemed like the first time for everyone in the movie.  It gave me a Last Dragon type of fill.  But I'm not sure if they meant it to be as silly as it was at times.  Yet, it was entertaining.  There were some moments that made me laugh.  Watch out for the Grandma, she made the movie for me.  And the fighting scenes were pretty good.  The kids in the theatre seemed to love it.

But in the day where seeing a movie in the theatre is mad expensive, I can't urge you to go see this Friday when it opens.  Waiting for DVD in like 2 months LOL (movies are moving to DVD officially [I don't support bootlegs] very quickly) wouldn't be that bad.

Following after my fave Neal Rosen from NY1 (who I saw on Monday at the Tyson party- wish I would have spoken to him).  

Out of 5 Peanut M&Ms (because I love them) I give Fighting 2 Peanut M&Ms.

Let me know what you think if you see it.

 

Pleasing God

PRAYER: How precious is Your name, Jesus!  There is eternal power in the name of Jesus.  The mighty name of Jesus.  You hear me every time I call and You pick me up every time I fall.  I desire more of You in my life, a deeper relationship with You.  Here I am!  I desire to do Your will and not my own.  That every decision that I step out on, has been guided by You.  That it is Your way and not my way.  I need You.  I don't want to live this life on my own.  Thank You for forgiveness, my joy, my peace, my faith in You and Your Word.  Thank You.  In Your name I pray.  Amen

MATTHEW 19:16-30 part 3

THE RICH YOUNG MAN: 

emphasis on verses 21-22

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder,' 'do not commit adultery,' 'do not steal,' 'do not give false testimony,' 'honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.' "

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

What has Jesus exposed to you?  What are your weaknesses?  Have you made any steps to do what God is telling you to do?  What better time than now to do what is commanded of you.  Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today.  Pray!  Trust me I experienced this, this very morning-how prayer will motivate you to do what you don't necessarily feel like doing.

So above, Jesus says to the young rich man, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.''  When Jesus told this young man that he would "be perfect" if he gave everything he had to the poor, Jesus wasn't speaking in the temporal, human sense.  He was explaining how to be justified and made whole or complete in God's sight.  Should all believers sell everything they own?  No.  This again was in the context of speaking to this young man's situation.  We are responsible to care for our own needs and the needs of our families so as not to be a burden on others.  We should, however, be willing to give up anything if God asks us to do so.  This kind of attitude allows nothing to come between us and God and keeps us from using our God-given wealth and blessings selfishly.  In the past 4 months, God has been telling me to give up a lot.  Some has been easy but not all of it.  At this time I'm struggling with giving up certain things.  It's not easy, but we have to do it because God knows what's best for us.  

If you are comforted by the fact that Christ did not tell all his followers to sell all their possessions, then you may be too attached to what you have.  We cannot love God with all our heart and yet keep out money or gifts to ourselves.  Loving Him totally means using what we have (your body, your time, your money, your possessions, your home----everything!) in ways that please Him.

HOW DO YOU USE WHAT YOU HAVE TO PLEASE GOD?

My Weakness...

PRAYER: LORD, someone needs Your comfort right now.  I ask that You put this person at ease emotionally, physically and spiritually.  That You show their heart that You are here for them.  That in this time of pain, maybe anger and confusion that they see that You are a loving God that they can turn to at anytime.  I ask that Your Spirit of peace enters into their heart and the heart of their family members.  That Your love pushes out any crazy thoughts and ideas that the enemy can suggest in order to cause chaos, even simple chaos.  I rebuke chaos from their lives right now in the name of Jesus.  I pray that they do not center their focus on "lost" but on what You can do and are doing in their lives.  I thank You for Your healing.  Healing in the most perfect way that brings about Your glory in the entire situation.  You are a healing God.  By the blood of Jesus I call forth healing into the bodies of those who believe in Your Spirit.  It's by their faith that they are healed.  I pray that their faith is in You and nothing else.  In the mighty name of our healing God, Jesus.  Amen. 

MATTHEW 19:16-30 part 2

THE RICH YOUNG MAN: 

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder,' 'do not commit adultery,' 'do not steal,' 'do not give false testimony,' 'honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.' "

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

So, first thing first:  What is God telling you to do that you're not doing?  

Have you asked and answered this for yourself yet?  It's a good question to inquire of God to reveal to you.  There's a lot of things on my list. LOL.  But they all come back to one thing, OBEDIENCE!  Why is it so hard to obey?  The strange fact here is, if it was easy-it would become about my works and not about needing my awesome Father in heaven.  So I have to be thankful for my struggle.  It continuously reminds me that I can't do this alone and with God I do have the victory.  I need to stop allowing the enemy and the "inner me" to discourage and defeat me.  Whatever battle I'm going through, I'm going to make it through, because of my God.

Returning to our above reading, starting at verse 17.  In response to the young man's question about how to have eternal life,  Jesus told him to keep God's Ten Commandments.  Jesus then listed six of them, referring to relationships with others.  Now let's put this in context.  We're not to take this one quote from Jesus and think that these 6 commandments are the most important ones to follow.  Jesus was speaking directly to this young man's situation.  He knew the young man had kept all of these, as he confirmed that he did.  Jesus told him that he must do something more-sell everything and give the money to the poor.  Jesus' statement exposed the man's weakness.  In reality, his wealth was his god, his idol, and he would not give it up.  Thus, he violated the first and greatest commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3), " 'Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' " (Matthew 22:37-38).  What has become the god in your life?  What is the one thing you're not willing to give up in order to serve God with your whole heart and soul?

WHAT WEAKNESS IS JESUS EXPOSING IN YOU?

Following Jesus

PRAYER: LORD, what an honor it is to worship the One and True living God.  To know that we cannot serve two masters.  That when we serve anything other than Jesus, our return is void of the goodness and eternal blessings that You promise.  Hallelujah LORD, we praise You in advance.  Not only for what You have done or what You're going to do, but because of who You are.  I pray for those who don't know You.  I pray for those who don't know what a privilege it is to serve You.  I pray for those who are confused about who You are.  I pray that we will be corrected and enlightened by Your Word.  Not by our opinions.  I pray that Your Spirit will continue to feed us with what is righteous and good in every area of our lives.  Father God, You are about Your people.  You never sleep.  At all times You are watching over us with a loving eye, with great concern for each one of us.  I pray that we submit to You completely LORD; that we let go of the things that we are holding on to because they make us feel good, powerful, protected, and have become natural to us, when they shouldn't be-because they are all actions against You.  I pray that we realize that You are all that we need.  In the mighty name of Jesus, Your Son, our Savior.  Amen.

MATTHEW 19:16-30 part 1

THE RICH YOUNG MAN: 

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder,' 'do not commit adultery,' 'do not steal,' 'do not give false testimony,' 'honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.' "

"All there I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

What hits me is that this rich man had the chance to follow Jesus.  Literally,  Jesus says in verse 21  "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."  And all the man heard was that he would have to give up everything he had.  He didn't hear that he would help the poor, that he would have a treasure in heaven or that Jesus invited him to follow Him.  What a greatly missed opportunity.  Though today it isn't physically walking Jesus' walk as the disciples did when He was walking as a human on this earth; Jesus offers us the same opportunity.  Jesus wants us to follow Him in every area of our lives.  He might not have told you to sell everything and give to the poor, but He is telling you to give up something.  Whether you know Jesus or not, there is something in the way of you following Him.

To this rich man seeking assurance of eternal life, Jesus pointed out that salvation does not come form good deeds unaccompanied by love for God.  The man needed a whole new starting point.  Instead of adding another commandment to keep or good deed to perform, the rich man needed to submit humbly to the lordship of Christ.  You can call yourself a good person all you want and be full of good deeds.  Without God, it's meaningless because with your good deeds and being that good person you will NOT get you into the Kingdom of God.  Accepting Jesus into your life is the only way.  If you know Jesus, good deeds are great, but God will always be the only One who is truly good.  And he is concerned with what's in your heart.  Even when we know Him, we place so many things before Him: work, tv, relationships, going out, sleep, appearance/reputation, money, doing things our own way, our made up philosophies and the list can go on-you know what's before God in your life.  The great thing is that God gives us more than second chances, there's a fourth, fifth, sixth and keep going.  As humans, we're going to mess up.  We will never be perfect in our actions.  But being covered by the blood of Jesus, we're blameless in God's eyes.  Praise God for that!  As long as it's a truly heartfelt declaration, God offers us a new starting point when we get off track or too routined to remember it's about a relationship and not acts.  Do you need a whole new starting point today?  God is offering it to you, take it!

WHAT IS GOD TELLING YOU TO DO THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING?

JESUS

PRAYER: I encourage you to take the time to pray for someone else this morning.  I know someone just came to your mind.  So just pray on their behalf.  Intercede for them in what they're going through right now.  In Jesus' name.

Scripture: Psalm 122:6-9  & John 17:20-26 

MATTHEW 19:13-15 

THE LITTLE CHILDREN AND JESUS:

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.  

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Do you remember Matthew 18:1-9 at the end of March, beginning of April?   What Jesus said about little children?  Well, the disciples must have forgotten what Jesus had said about children (verses 4-6).  Jesus wanted little children to come to Him because He loves them and because they have a guileless trust in God.  I can attest to this.  I will never forget the day I accepted Jesus Christ into my life.  I had to be 7/8 and I was at a retreat like function and I desired it.  I believed in that moment that there was a God.  I was forced to know this Jesus.  I desired to know Him, and accepted Him all on my own.  He has been apart of my life ever since.  Through the good and the bad- and I know I'm in a better place with Him. I look at my little cousin who is quick to pray and not ashamed to pray.  Not because she has to, but because she wants to.  On Sunday, I got to observe 2 little girls sitting in front of me, they had to be the age of 7 or 8 and they were not afraid to praise God.  One girl wasn't even sitting with an adult (because the church was so packed), and on her own she had her hands raised and praised God without a care of what anyone thought of her.  It was really priceless to see.  Then you look around at adults, who have so much baggage and criticisms and judgments that they can't even accept that Jesus is real and more than just a man.  

Jesus didn't mean that heaven is only for children but that all people need childlike faith in God.  The receptiveness of little children was a great contrast to the stubbornness of the religious leaders, who let their education, sophistication, fear and pride stand in the way of the simple faith needed to believe in Jesus.

WHAT IS STANDING IN THE WAY OF YOU BELIEVING IN JESUS?

Marriage

PRAYER: Thank You Father, I'm alive!  How often do I just thank You for giving me breath and strength to live another day?  Though this world is a rough place to live at times, I don't think we fully understand the grace upon our lives and the fact that there is purpose in each day that we live.   LORD, help us to represent Your glory, the revelation of Your character as well as the power of Your Presence to the world around us.  Let us desire to be holy because You are holy.  I call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially and therefore we each should live in reverent fear of You.  It is not by the perishable things on this earth that I am redeemed from the empty way of life (1 Peter 1:16-18).  But by Your Son, Jesus Christ that I am saved.  I am apart of  a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to You.  I declare the praise of my loving God, who has called me out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).  I'm alive!  Thank You LORD.  In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

MATTHEW 19:1-12

DIVORCE: 

When Jesus had finished saying these things (from chapter 18), he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"

"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' (Genesis 1:27) and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? (Genesis 2:24) So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" 

Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry." 

Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs (an emasculated male-a man with no testicles) because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

Marriage is taken so lightly in our society today.  You love (or lust) one person one day, get married way too quickly and after the honeymoon, discover marriage was the wrong decision.  John the baptist, was put in prison and killed, at least in part for his public opinions on marriage and divorce, so the Pharisees hoped to trap Jesus, as well.  They were trying to trick Jesus by having Him choose sides in a theological controversy.  Two schools of thought represented two opposing views of divorce.  One group supported divorce for almost any reason.  The other believed that divorce could be allowed only for martial unfaithfulness.  This conflict hinged on how each group interpreted Deuteronomy 24:1-4.  In His answer, however, Jesus focused on marriage rather than divorce.  He pointed out that God intended marriage to be permanent and gave four reasons for the importance of marriage: (19:4-6) "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' (Genesis 1:27) and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? (Genesis 2:24) So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

This law of Moses found in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 was created because the practice of marriage fell far short of God's intention.  And this continued on to Jesus' day and the same is true today.  Jesus said that Moses gave this law only because of the people's hard hearts; since sinful human nature made divorce inevitable, Moses instituted some laws to help its victims.  These were civil laws designed especially to protect women who, in that culture, were quite vulnerable when living alone.  Because of Moses' law, a man could no longer just throw his wife out-he had to write a formal letter of dismissal.  As humans often take things a step too far, this radical step toward civil rights made men use it as a way to switch up wives whenever they wanted instead of thinking twice about divorce.  It is NOT what God originally intended.  God's intention is for marriage to be a permanent union between a man and woman.  He designed marriage to be indissoluble.  Couples should decide against divorce from the start and build their marriage on mutual commitment to God and one another.  So that while in the marriage, they have each committed to concentrating on how to stay together when things get rough, instead of looking for reasons to leave each other.

There are also many good reasons for a people not to get married.  One being to have more time to work for God's Kingdom.  Don't assume that God wants everyone to marry.  For many it may be better if they don't because they can serve God better as a single person.  Jesus was not teaching us to avoid marriage because it is inconvenient or takes away our freedom.  That would be selfishness.  A good reason to remain single is to use the time and freedom to serve God. (Paul elaborates 1 Corinthians 7)  Sex is not a Godly reason to get married either, it's a stupid reason.  Be sure that you prayerfully seek God's Will before you plunge into the lifelong commitment of marriage.  

DON'T TAKE MARRIAGE OR DIVORCE LIGHTLY.