31 Days: Marriage Devotionals
31 Days: Marriage Devotionals
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Day 28: A Quiet Life: Learning to Guard Your Privacy – and Your Partner’s Privacy - 31 Days: Marriage Devotionals

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Getting Started

Getting Started

Day 1: The Destructive Power of Harmful Words

Day 1: The Destructive Power of Harmful Words

Day 2: The Constructive Power of Helpful Words

Day 2: The Constructive Power of Helpful Words

Day 3: Ceasing Our Harmful Thoughts: Time for Some Brain Surgery

Day 3: Ceasing Our Harmful Thoughts: Time for Some Brain Surgery

Day 4: Building a New Habit: The Power of Positive Thinking

Day 4: Building a New Habit: The Power of Positive Thinking

Day 5: The Unifying Power of Common Experiences

Day 5: The Unifying Power of Common Experiences

Day 6: Key to Preserving Your Marriage: Being Intentional About Your Focus

Day 6: Key to Preserving Your Marriage: Being Intentional About Your Focus

Day 7: Two Pathways to Riches: Have More or Want Less

Day 7: Two Pathways to Riches: Have More or Want Less

Day 8: Working Together in Harmony Produces Beautiful Music

Day 8: Working Together in Harmony Produces Beautiful Music

Day 9: This Honorable Estate

Day 9: This Honorable Estate

Day 10: Other Dimensions of Faithfulness: Part 1

Day 10: Other Dimensions of Faithfulness: Part 1

Day 11: Other Dimensions of Faithfulness: Part 2

Day 11: Other Dimensions of Faithfulness: Part 2

Day 12: Faithfulness: The Foundation of Trust in a Relationship

Day 12: Faithfulness: The Foundation of Trust in a Relationship

Day 13: Be Angry – Yet Do Not Sin

Day 13: Be Angry – Yet Do Not Sin

Day 14: Solve It Before the Sun Sets --- or at Least Before Bedtime

Day 14: Solve It Before the Sun Sets --- or at Least Before Bedtime

Day 15: The Wisdom We Need Is Peaceable

Day 15: The Wisdom We Need Is Peaceable

Day 16: The Wisdom We Need Is Gentle

Day 16: The Wisdom We Need Is Gentle

Day 17: The Wisdom We Need Is Willing to Yield

Day 17: The Wisdom We Need Is Willing to Yield

Day 18: The Wisdom We Need Is Full of Mercy

Day 18: The Wisdom We Need Is Full of Mercy

Day 19: The Wisdom We Need Is Without Hypocrisy

Day 19: The Wisdom We Need Is Without Hypocrisy

Day 20: What? Me Worry? Husbands Edition

Day 20: What? Me Worry? Husbands Edition

Day 21: What? Me Worry? Wives Edition

Day 21: What? Me Worry? Wives Edition

Day 22: Marriage Builder Tip: Be Patient with Each Other

Day 22: Marriage Builder Tip: Be Patient with Each Other

Day 23: Marriage Builder Tip: The Beauty of a Clean Slate

Day 23: Marriage Builder Tip: The Beauty of a Clean Slate

Day 24: Marriage Builder Tip: The Power of Perseverance

Day 24: Marriage Builder Tip: The Power of Perseverance

Day 25: Marriage Builder Tip: The Power of Prayerful Hope

Day 25: Marriage Builder Tip: The Power of Prayerful Hope

Day 26: The Destructive Power of a Restless Spirit

Day 26: The Destructive Power of a Restless Spirit

Day 27: The Contagious Power of Relentless Contentment

Day 27: The Contagious Power of Relentless Contentment

Day 28: A Quiet Life: Learning to Guard Your Privacy – and Your Partner’s Privacy

Day 28: A Quiet Life: Learning to Guard Your Privacy – and Your Partner’s Privacy

Day 29: Minding Your Own Business --- What One Young Wife Decides

Day 29: Minding Your Own Business --- What One Young Wife Decides

Day 30: Earn Your Own Living – What Does This Mean to You?

Day 30: Earn Your Own Living – What Does This Mean to You?

Day 31: Winning the Respect of Others --- Your Marriage Matters

Day 31: Winning the Respect of Others --- Your Marriage Matters

Discipleship Place
John ComstockJul 21, 2021 10:00 pm GMT

Scripture Focus: Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living . . . in this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers . . . I Thessalonians 4:11-12

 

Newly married, Christa (not her real name) was stunned to walk into her home one day and find her husband deeply entranced by pornography displayed in full view on the couple’s big-screen TV in their living room.

 

Christa was understandably shocked. She and her husband were active believers, recently married, in their early 20’s. They had a healthy, active sex life, and were very much in love. For Christa, pornography was something for dirty old men; certainly not for happily-married, godly young husbands!

 

Stunned, shocked, and not quite believing her husband could have an issue with something as disgusting as pornography, Christa shared her distress with a trusted older sister. The older sister quickly told Christa’s mother who then told her husband, Christa’s father. In a very short time, Christa’s entire family developed a negative and critical view of her husband. His reputation as a godly young man was permanently impaired.

 

From there no one is certain who first spread the news. The transgression of Christa’s husband worked its way throughout their circle of friends at their church. Gossip travels quickly, even in churches. The situation grew so uncomfortable that Christa and her husband finally decided to move to another city, away from Christa’s relatives and away from their former church. Christa’s husband promised to change his ways --- and apparently did so --- but it was too late to save his reputation, which had been permanently damaged by a young wife’s decision to tell others about his offense.

 

For your personal reflection:

  • How would you feel if your mistakes and failures were suddenly common knowledge in your circle of family, friends, and those you know at church? 
  • Have you even been the victim of harmful gossip, even if the facts were true? 
  • How did you feel when that happened? 
  • Can a good reputation ever be fully repaired? In cases where our partner makes a mistake, or does something that is embarrassing, do we really need to spread this information to others?

Prayer: Lord, when our personal safety is threatened help us to run to You. Help us learn to live a quiet life, and to (when and where appropriate) guard each other’s privacy. In this way we will also guard each other’s reputation.


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