Helping Someone Whose Mate Doesn’t Share the Faith (1)
categories: Uncategorized |Saturday February 6
“If a woman has a husband who is not a believer.” 1Co 7:13 NIV
Living with an unbelieving mate is both a challenge and an opportunity. It’s a challenge because believers and unbelievers see life differently; and it’s an opportunity because God can use the believer to close the gap and win them to Christ. But for that to take place, the faith-bearing mate must make two commitments:
Commit to the goal of their salvation.
Commit to his or her own growth through loving the unbelieving mate and living with them. Once committed, then the believer is ready for this practical and helpful counsel.
Remember the unbeliever’s spiritual limitations. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Co 5:17 NIV) Only when they’re “in Christ” can they be a “new creation.” Only then will “the old” go! The old will dominate until they receive the new. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (Jn 3:6). Remember, the unbeliever suffers from spiritual birth defects they can’t overcome until the new birth corrects them. “The flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so…those…in the flesh cannot please God” (Ro 8:7-8 NAS). If they don’t love God’s Word, prayer, and church like you do, it’s because they’re controlled by the flesh and are “not even able” to. So have realistic expectations. Remember what you were like B.C. (Before Christ)? Be patient, loving, and kind while God does His work in them. Share this and the subsequent days’ devotions with your friend, neighbor, or even parent. Your encouragement could be a big help.
SoulFood: Rom 1:1-3:20, Ps 67, Pr 4:1-2