Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.

 Malachi 2:15 ESV

I never noticed this before until our Sunday School teacher read from the Malachi the other week.  The prophet records God’s reminder to the Hebrews that when He instituted marriage for all of creation, each married couple received some of His Spirit as a gift. 

If couples throughout all time have been endowed with divine presence in the form of some of His spirit, think how much more help we have, as Christians!

For example, when Mike and I were married, we were faithful church attenders, but not yet Christians.  Although we thought we were,. Afterall, we believed in God, we acknowledged that Jesus was the Savior and we had been baptized. Those around us in our denomination at the time would have said that was enough ‘to qualify’.   But once we saw our sin and turned from it for the first time, understanding its seriousness, we gratefully grasped Jesus’ offer of salvation. With awe.

Now, with the Holy Spirit permanently abiding in us, we have His permanent help for our marriage. As Paul writes to the Colossians, Christ in me, the assurance of Glory.   Jesus through His Spirit is never going to depart from Mike nor from me. That makes a significant difference in marriage. 

Yes, Satan and his foul spirits are set on destroying all marriage, but we needn’t worry. We just need to recall God’s good gift to help us strengthen our union with each other. 

I’m going to start praying for married Christian family and friends specifically for them to remember that they have the greatest resource to help them in their conflicts and suffering. They and we are not alone in this life. 

And for couples for whom God’s plan includes children, Malachi affirms God’s commitment to help them raise godly sons and daughters.  If God is FOR us in our marriages and families, then we have nothing to fear.