Hope for Hurting Relationships | Jeff Clark
What if you gave up too soon and realized God had more for you?
Hosea 1:2 CSB
2 When the LORD first spoke to Hosea, he said this to him: Go and marry a woman of promiscuity, and have children of promiscuity, for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity by abandoning the LORD.
Hosea 2:5-8 CSB
Yes, their mother is promiscuous; she conceived them and acted shamefully. For she thought, “I will follow my lovers, the men who give me my food and water, my wool and flax, my oil and drink.” 6 Therefore, this is what I will do: I will block her way with thorns; I will enclose her with a wall, so that she cannot find her paths. 7 She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will think, “I will go back to my former husband, for then it was better for me than now.” 8 She does not recognize that it is I who gave her the grain, the new wine, and the fresh oil. I lavished silver and gold on her, which they used for Baal.
Hosea 3:1-3 CSB
Then the Lord said to me, “Go again; show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, just as the Lord loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and nine bushels of barley. 3 I said to her, “You are to live with me many days. You must not be promiscuous or belong to any man, and I will act the same way toward you.”
Hosea 11:8-9 CSB
How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I surrender you, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? I have had a change of heart; my compassion is stirred! 9 I will not vent the full fury of my anger; I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not man, the Holy One among you; I will not come in rage.
I. God works in bad marriages.
There are no perfect marriages.
idolatry - taking something or someone and attempting to make them the ultimate
Ephesians 5:25-27 NIV
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
II. God's grace can heal a broken marriage.
Hosea:
1. pursues her
Romans 5:8 NIV
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
You can't out-sin the grace of God.
Hosea:
2. provides for her
Hosea:
3. gives her a plan for change
Top 10 Boundaries to Protect Your Marriage
1. Do not cultivate private emotional intimacy with someone who is not your spouse.
2. Never keep secrets from your spouse about conversations, relationships, or digital communication.
3. Avoid one-on-one situations that create unnecessary opportunity or vulnerability.
4. Do not share personal struggles or marital frustrations with someone of the opposite sex.
5. Keep all digital communication transparent and accessible to your spouse.
6. Guard your eyes and mind from pornography or sexually suggestive content.
7. Refuse flirtation – whether playful, subtle, or "harmless" – in any setting.
8. Prioritize regular, meaningful time alone with your spouse.
9. Invite accountability from a trusted, same-gender friend or mentor.
10. Pray consistently for your spouse and your own integrity before temptation ever appears.
III. God's love makes us brand new.
Hosea 11:8 CSB
8 How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I surrender you, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? I have had a change of heart; my compassion is stirred!
Isaiah 1:18 NIV
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.“ Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.