Stay Faithful No Matter What

When I was growing up, I had an aunt that was a believer and an uncle that wasn’t. At family gatherings and holiday parties, the contrast was dramatically evident. My uncle at times seemed to lean into showing his unbelief in an outward fashion. Even as a kid, I noticed the awkwardness of the situation and interaction within the family. I also noticed my aunt’s persistence in making sure she and her kids were in church every week. She had them involved in AWANA and other church functions. My aunt was faithful to God even with the resistance from her husband. Being faithful in our marriages and being true to our faith can happen in unequally yoked marriages. Maybe you are in a similar situation, feeling pressure to change your faith to accommodate the differences in priorities of your spouse. Paul is encouraging you to stay and assert godly influence on your spouse. The easy thing would be to walk away from this marriage. The easy way is not usually God’s way, the believer is called to fulfill their marital responsibilities, to honor and love their spouse. The hope is that this godly love and respect will soften and bring the spouse to a relationship with Jesus. My aunt prayed and loved on my uncle for 30 years and miraculously he became a believer. The wonderful transformation was evident and blessed their relationship. They loved each other before but after his conversion this relationship and love between them deepened. This man that fought God his whole life was transformed in his 50’s and was serving Jesus on a deacon board in his 60’s. By the faithful witness of a loving wife, God transformed a hardened man and his family. “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband.” (ESV). There is hope for the believer in this situation, change can come. No one is too lost to find Jesus! BE FAITHFUL!