Casting Lots to choose a marriage partner? - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Hos 8-10
CASTING LOTS? Tuesday, June 29, 2010
MEMORIZE: “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4) READ: Acts 1:15-26 “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4). Marriage is an honorable thing. God created it so. But when the honor in marriage is lost, what is left becomes a thing of shame. Today, the homes of many are left in shameful ruins. Two major ways of destroying the most important virtue of the marriage institution are: through premarital sex- especially during courtship and extra -marital sex which is having sexual relations with anyone who is not your lawfully wedded spouse; either way, your honor is eroded and your marriage left in shame. If you keep your bed undefiled before or after marriage, you are not doing anyone a favor except yourself. Sins committed during courtship always hinder prayers after marriage. The devil will ask: ‘With what mouth are you asking?’ The scourge of HIV/AIDS does not even put fear in the hearts of some people. Like an advert says, AIDS does not show on the face. You do not know if that person asking you to sleep with him is about to deliver that dreaded disease and ruin your beautiful future. Take warning! Another area of note is the process of selecting one’s partner. Some people will toss a coin over two brothers or sisters to know which to choose. They are preparing for trouble! Let God guide you on your choice. When you employ the wrong method for doing something, you are most unlikely to get the expected result. In Acts 1:15-26, when the apostles wanted a replacement for Judas Iscariot, they prayed but casted lots. In those days, they would put the names of the candidates on stones, parchment or wood into an urn and after prayer, somebody would dip his hand and which ever one was picked would be considered the right choice. They did that and the lots fell on Matthias. They thought that was God’s choice after all, they prayed, but it was their choice. That was the last time that name was mentioned in the Bible. He was appointed into oblivion. That is what happens when you use a ‘lucky dip’ or fleece method in choosing your partner. Marriage is too serious a matter to handle by lots. Go to the Author of marriage and He will give you your partner. If He can do so for many, why not you? ACTION POINT: Those who use fleece or lots as basis for choosing in important matters like marriage are only displaying their spiritual laziness.