Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 7:15–16
God had Paul continue to write to the Christians who were married to non-Christians. This probably happened in the church at Corinth because when people started surrendering their lives to Christ, sometimes only one spouse in the marriage got saved while the other did not. God had Paul let those Christians know how He was still working through them to hopefully see their spouse and children come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior as well. We read in 1 Corinthians 7:15–16, “Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?” God wanted these Christians to know that if their unbelieving spouse did choose to leave the marriage, they were not spiritually or morally bound to the marriage any longer. God further explained that He called them to live in peace and His peace would minister to them through this loss. But then, God had Paul write something encouraging to the Christian spouses. It was a reminder that God could and would use them to seek to lead their non-believing spouse to Christ. This is a great reminder which God also shared through Peter in 1 Peter 3:1–6. God clarified that an unbelieving spouse would probably be led to Christ, not by the words of the believing spouse but by the Christian spouse’s godly and loving actions.
Challenge & Application
How have you seen God use a believing spouse to have an incredible impact on a non-believing spouse?
What’s the greatest lesson God has taught you this week concerning the marriage relationship?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!