Core Christian Value
Fidelity, in the Bible, means being faithful, continuing to trust and love, even in the face of doubts, disappointments and uncertainty. It applies to marriage, both physical and spiritual.
Given the alarming rate of divorce among Christian and non-Christians, the word “fidelity” has lost some its meaning. Webster says that fidelity is: the quality or state of being faithful. We can not change the past and if your family has experienced a divorce, it is often regrettable and sad but a Christian need not repeat mistakes from lessons learned. Families must move on seeking to be faithful to God and to each other.
From this moment on, focus on fidelity, both to family members, and to our Lord. The scriptures place marriage of persons in the same position as marriage of our spirits with the Spirit of God. Listen: “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” REVELATION 19:7 NKJV
The wife described here is the Church, that body of believers who have been made “one” and we are to have true fidelity to the Lamb of God, Jesus and the One who sent Him. Listen to the words from the Book of Hosea:
“I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In loving kindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the LORD.” HOSEA 2:19-20 NKJV
That is God’s promise to those who have been “wed” to the Lord. It is a promise He will keep. His fidelity is guaranteed. The Apostle Paul adds more meaning to the definition of marriage:
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” EPHESIANS 5:25-33 NKJV
John says, “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” REVELATION 21:2. NKJV This is a ceremony you do not want to miss!
At the human level, is divorce forgivable? It was in the Bible and it is now. Not desirable, but forgivable. So, how important is fidelity in a marriage? Being faithful is critical in our relationship with each other and with our Lord. Discuss why fidelity is such an important concept. Do you think fidelity applies to friendships and relatives? Think of some synonyms that mean the same thing as fidelity.