Devotional Thought

To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

-1 Corinthians 7:10-11

The Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7 reflect a community navigating a world not unlike our own—confused about relationships, broken by infidelity, and marked by conflicting views of marriage and singleness. For new believers in Corinth, their past decisions collided with their newfound faith in Christ, leading to complex questions about marriage, divorce, and remarriage.

In a culture where marriage is often treated casually and divorce frequently viewed as an easy escape, the biblical message is profoundly countercultural. He elevates marriage as sacred, urges reconciliation where possible, and affirms singleness as a valid, even blessed, calling—provided it’s accompanied by self-control and a heart undistracted from the Kingdom.

Ultimately, this passage reminds us that everyone —married or single—should pursue honoring God. The calling is not to chase comfort or pleasure, but holiness and faithfulness. For those already divorced, there is no condemnation—only wisdom and clarity on how to move forward in Christ. Whether married, divorced, remarried, or single, we are invited to order our lives in light of God’s truth, grace, and mission.

Discussion Questions

1. How do people in our culture today typically view marriage, singleness, and divorce?

2. Paul says both singleness and marriage are gifts from God (v.7). What might it look like to treat your current season as a gift? Are there blessings you’ve overlooked?

3. Why do you think Paul discourages believers from marrying non-believers? How have you seen spiritual alignment (or the lack of it) affect a relationship?

4. Paul gives a strong warning about withholding intimacy in marriage (v.5). Why might this be such a significant issue in preserving unity and guarding against temptation?

5. How have you seen God's grace redeem a broken relationship—your own or someone else's? What does this teach us about the power of testimony and the ongoing work of the gospel?

6. Think about your closest relationships (spouse, family, friends, dating, or community). What’s one way you can pursue greater faithfulness to Jesus in that relationship? This could be a conversation, a prayer, a boundary, or a step of intentional care.

Action Step:

What’s one tangible step you can take this week to align your relationships with the heart of Jesus? Choose one of the options below—or come up with your own—and commit to doing it prayerfully.

• Write out a prayer of surrender, asking God to reshape your view of marriage, intimacy, and commitment to reflect His love.

• Fast from a media source that distorts your view of marriage, singleness, love, or sexuality for 3 days, and spend that time in Scripture or prayer instead.
• Do a Scripture meditation on 1 Corinthians 7:17, which says, “Each of you should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to you.” Spend 10–15 minutes in silence and prayer, asking: How am I being invited to live faithfully in my current season—married or single, settled or uncertain?