Together in Christ: 'His, Both Body and Spirit!' — Malachi 2:15

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Didn't the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.

— Malachi 2:15 NLT

Key Thought

Malachi uses the language of entering into a covenant as he talks about marriage. When we marry, we enter into a covenant with the person we marry and with God. [1] Our ultimate loyalty is to God and honoring God in how we treat our spouse. [2] God makes us one as husband and wife. Each of us belongs to each other, and we belong to God: "in body and spirit you are his," Malachi reminds us. For godliness to come from this union, each person in this covenant commits to living to show love and give honor to the other.

In a fallen and broken world, a world where Satan looks to steal, destroy, and kill relationships [3], Malachi reminds us that we must firmly commit to three things:

  1. Each of belongs to God, both body and spirit. He is the one who made us one, and our desire must be to please Him. How we treat each other is part of the worship we offer to Him. [4]
  2. We must guard our hearts. We must guard our hearts in a sex-crazed and sexually-distorted and sexually-destructive world. Not all sin is the same, and sexual sin can leave a destructive "residue" of memories that can be destructive to our relationships in marriage. [5]
  3. We must practice loyalty to both God and our spouse in our marriage. Despite times when we are upset, angry, or broken by the other person, God wants us to be loyal to Him and our spouse because He wants to protect us from Satan. He doesn't want the evil one to gain a foothold in our relationship and slowly destroy the gift God has given us. [5]

How vital are these principles that Malachi gives us? Notice how Malachi finishes his thoughts on this crucial covenant:

"To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty," says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. "So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife."
 [6]

In a world of throwaway commitments, God reminds us that our commitment isn't just with another person; it is also a covenant with Him. There are no throwaway commitments for God because there are no throwaway people!

[1] Malachi 2:14-16 NIV uses the word for a special kind of "covenant". This covenant (called a Suzerain and Vassal style of covenant) is between two lesser parties (husband and wife) and a much stronger party (God). The husband and wife must honor God regardless of their desire to honor each other.
[2] Both Jesus (Matthew 19:1-9) and Paul (Ephesians 5:21) emphasize this ultimate loyalty to honor God in this relationship.
[3] John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8-9.
[4] Paul commands the Ephesians to be filled with the Spirit and lists five ways we worship associated with being filled with the Spirit — speaking in songs.. singing... making music... giving thanks... submitting to one another (Ephesians 5:18-21 NIV).
[5] Ephesians 4:27; 2 Corinthians 2:10-11, 4:4; Luke 22:31.
[6] Malachi 2:16.

Today's Prayer

O God, "the Lord of Heaven's Armies," * I come to you asking for Your power and grace to love and honor the special people you have brought into my life with pure, holy, and faithful love so I can keep my covenant to You and be a lasting blessing to those I love. IJesus's' name, I pray this. Amen.

* This is the name Malachi uses for God in Malachi 2:12.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Romans 12:1-2
  • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 16-20

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Illustration

Illustration of Malachi 2:15 NLT — Didn't the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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