1 Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.

This is a statement of immense importance and practicality. Since the marital bond is one of the strongest possible on this earth, this is an issue that cannot be avoided. I know of quite a few couples to whom this applies, both personally and at a distance. (I’m very grateful it has never applied to me personally.) I deal with marriage a great deal, performing weddings at a local “marriage palace” and conducting counseling with each couple before the ceremony, so I am constantly reminded of the factors in a Biblical marriage. Sadly, such marriages aren’t all that common, for quite a number of reasons. Divorce is a huge issue, especially in America but increasingly so in Japan as well. I know of couples where one partner is a believer and one not a believer who started out that way, others where one partner became a believer after their marriage, and some where both seemed to be believers at marriage but one discarded their faith along the way. All of them have their problems, and all of them need this verse. As the next verse says, you don’t know if you will save your partner, but the possibility is always there. To a degree, this counterbalances what Paul famously said to the Philippian jailer: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.” (Acts 16:31) It makes it clear that the offer of salvation is open to the whole household, but each one is responsible to accept that offer for themselves. This verse makes it clear that if someone, even a spouse, declines that offer we can’t force it on them, nor should we try. However, we are always to speak the truth in love to them. As Peter, the only certifiably married apostle, said, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8) Life with an unbelieving spouse is far from ideal, but God can work miracles in it even so.

As I said, I’m very grateful not to have had to deal with this in my own marriage, but at the same time, I am aware that our respective level of faith has not always been equal. Each of us has had times of needing to support the other’s faith, and we should always be encouraging each other in faith. That’s because neither of us is perfect; we both have plenty of room to grow. I am not to put my wife down, either verbally or in my own thinking, and I pray she would express the same grace toward me. As I always tell couples, God designed marriage so that we would help each other out in our weak areas, because those are different for each individual. My wife and I are to be an example and an encouragement to the many people who are watching us, to let them know how good marriage can be.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for the privilege of interacting with so many couples. May I point everyone with whom I interact to You, whether they have a partner or not, so that they may open their heart to receive all that You have prepared for them, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!