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Bible Reading Plan

Reading Plan: Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
Open my lips, Lord,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is^[b] a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.

May it please you to prosper Zion,
    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
    in burnt offerings offered whole;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.

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Daily Devotional: Marriage is a Mixed Bag

“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Matthew 5:31-32

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

Matthew 19:8

As a pastor, I’ve officiated dozens of weddings. I’ve facilitated pre-marital counseling alongside many of these couples. And my wife and I will cross our own 30-year threshold next summer. When it comes to marriage, I’ve seen a thing or two over the years. I may be wiser for it, but I’m far from being an expert. Through it all, there’s an unshakable reality that keeps me grounded… Marriage is a mixed bag.

Moses knew this. Jesus knew this. And the Bible reminds us of this from cover to cover. It’s a simple tale as old as time: Two best friends fall in love, make a public commitment to one another, and host a party for family and friends. The “big day” seems like the biggest deal, but the couple’s lifelong journey of marriage has just begun.

Because individuals are a mixed bag—of personality, family history, values, opinions, choices, consequences, and so much more—becoming husband and wife exponentially multiplies everything under one roof! Relating to each other amplifies. Emotions, when ignored, get stuffed or explode. Selfish decisions do unspeakable damage. And sin entangles everyone, not just the obvious offender.

When Jesus brings up historic caveats on divorce in the Sermon on the Mount, He’s not giving a green light as much as naming what’s true. Everyone is a mixed bag, and so is every marriage. Your marital vows are serious business, so take them seriously. Just as Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart” personally, do the same for your covenant as husband and wife. Hard hearts happen. But anyone can come to God with humility, openly repentant, and willing to love and serve more than be loved and be served.

If you expected this devotion to solve whatever’s happening at home, it won’t. But remembering that every marriage, and every one of us, is a mixed bag can help. No one is entirely right or wrong at all times. No one is beyond forgiveness, even when reconciliation or restoration isn’t the outcome. And no one is off the hook for tending to their own heart when living out “for better or worse”—in any relationship, especially marriage.

Next Steps

Here’s a marriage prayer for today: “Thank you, God, for reminding me that marriage is a mixed bag—and so am I. And thank you for loving me—all of me—and teaching me to love more like You. Shape me to reflect your heart in my relationship(s) each day.”

Take a moment to write this prayer down and carry it with you this week. Commit to praying it regarding your own marriage or on behalf of a married family member or friend.