Well, I recently came to the understanding of true depth of my ability to put myself outside of God's will through arrogance in assuming that I knew where I stood. I now submit to the mercy of our Lord, knowing that this too is for His glory.
I speak of my understanding the condition of my divorced state. Second wife. While I definitely say "yes and amen" to not divorcing for some very important biblical reasons, I still divorced my second wife. It was my idea and nothing would stop me from it. Though, in the process I had this false sense that, if God permitted, God could intervene in our lives and perhaps restore that marriage. There is biblical direction on this as being in God's will.
The problem for me is that I had never read the passage in 1 Cor 7:10 correctly. It is written that the woman may divorce and either remain single or remarry her former husband. Yes, amen. The next line is the crux of the matter. It give husbands absolutely no permission to do any of that. And women want to complain that they don't believe they should submit to their husbands, blah, blah, blah... Yeah, don't believe God, that by submitting to the one that is told to be as Christ over them. The one that is supposed to love, intercede, die even. And women can rely on the promise that God says that is what the husband is supposed to be and do. Don't like the way he is? Then pray and submit to God, standing on what the bible says. There's even hints for the woman that can guide her so that she walks in a manner that can enable God to work in the man's life. Want to know what they are? If so, then be careful you may find yourself where I find myself now, realizing that I was presuming on God's grace by doing what I thought the bible said. If not, then be even more careful, for pride and haughtiness are dangerous weapons that can be used against us and do not honor the Lord.
I think men actually have the greater charge in the matter. I'm only acknowledging what's in the bible. And, now that I see what it actually says I'm afraid. Not that God isn't still for me and by me and with me and through me. But, by relying on my false knowledge, I have been trusting in a grace that does not exist for my life. Yes, His grace is still available and I live in it and by it every day. Unmovable, unchangeable, eternal grace, from the Father God Almighty, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and the sacrifice that He made.
But now I see that I have not been on a sustainable path of growth in grace, and submit to the Lord, that He might show His great mercy and rule and lead my life, so that he may redeem all things, finally unto Himself. To the realization that what He has planned for me may be indeed very different than I thought before.
Beware of false teachers, and in my case, especially the one reading this. Only by knowing His word, particularly ones that address our specific circumstances, can we know the will of God that we may walk pleasing to Him in all things.
There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. His blood has cleansed us from all our sin and iniquity. Now that I have a clearer picture of His will, as it was for my former life, and more importantly, for my life now and into the future, I give thanks to God, that by the grace and peace we have through the Lord Jesus Christ, His is my rock and fortress, and strong deliverer, and He can manifest His glory as the Lord of my life as I have turned to repent so that I may be cleansed. He is faithful and just.
