Weekly Devotional: July 29, 2026

GOD’S WORD
Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6;

Devotional by
Rick Raymer, Major
Former Officer, Pastoral Care/Spiritual Life Development Resource Officer

“KEEP WRITING THE LETTERS”
Ronald and Nancy Reagan's Letters

“In an age of instant messages, snapchat, emojis, and TikTok it’s hard to imagine taking the time to sit down, choose your words carefully, and handwrite a letter to your spouse. But that’s exactly what Ronald Reagan did for his wife, Nancy—throughout their entire marriage. Even as President of the United States, with the weight of the Cold War, national crises, and world leaders on his schedule, he still carved out time to write her love letters.

These weren’t political memos. They weren’t quick “thinking of you” notes. They were tender, intentional, and personal—filled with affection, humor, and gratitude. One letter simply told her, “I’m not whole without you.” Another ended with, “I still can’t get over that you love me.” Even decades into marriage, he was still actively pursuing her heart.

Think about that—if the most powerful man in the world could make time to nurture his marriage, what excuse do the rest of us have? He never let his position, stress, or public life replace the private, daily pursuit of his wife’s heart.

I have had several friends in my life who called it quits after years of being in a marriage covenant, and not one of them is even close to the Biblical reason that Moses permitted in his day for divorce. With these friends of mine going through tough times and the fact that I can’t get them off my mind, nor the covenant they made with each other. After the Holy Spirit kept wooing me to put pen to paper, I finally decided to write a devotional today on the concept of a covenant, which is central to understanding marriage from a biblical perspective. It elevates the union far beyond a legal contract or a romantic feeling, making it a sacred, lifelong commitment. Are you with me?

SCRIPTURE - Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6

2:24  “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”

19:5-6  "Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

Are Marriages a Covenant or Contract? What's the Difference?

A contract is a conditional agreement that lasts as long as both parties fulfill their terms, and it can be broken when the terms are violated. A covenant, however, is an unconditional commitment, a binding promise made between a man and a woman and our Heavenly Father.

In a contract: The focus is on what I get - in other words, "I will stay if you make me happy.”

In a covenant, the focus is on “I promise to stay and love you, regardless of the circumstances.”

God's relationship with His people is based on covenant, and He calls marriage to reflect that same unwavering faithfulness. This covenant is not just between two spouses; it is a three-way vow: man, woman, and God.

My friends I spoke of earlier, and how they were seeing themselves in a contract, not a covenant, regardless of how it started out - remember these words:

“We are gathered here in the sight of God,
and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony,
which has been sanctioned and blessed by Jesus Christ,
and declared in Scripture to be honorable among all men.”

Then the pastor or Corps officer would ask, by turning to the husband to be - “Will you take her to be your wife, to live according to God’s ordinance in holy matrimony? Will you love her, comfort, honor, and sustain her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?” And she would say, "I do."

Has your marriage fallen apart? Have you forgotten what you promised each other, not to mention your promise to God?

When Jesus quotes Genesis, He emphasizes that marriage creates a new reality: the two become "one flesh." This refers to unity—physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial.

This unity means your spouse's needs, hurts, and joys become your own. The "leaving and cleaving" process requires prioritizing your spouse over all other human relationships, including those with your parents and children.

There is a Sacrifice

The Apostle Paul further illustrates the covenant by comparing marriage to Christ's relationship with the Church when he says: “Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25) This is a call to sacrificial, commencing (a beginning, a start) and cleansing love.

Here are the differences between a contract and a covenant:

A Contract Asks:

• What do I receive
• Does this still serve me?
• Can I exit if it costs too much?

A Covenant Asks:

• Who am I becoming before God?
• Am I learning faithfulness when no one is watching?
• Can I die to myself for the sake of another?

How you live single is how you will live married. Marriage doesn’t create covenant faithfulness—it reveals whether it was already there.

Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee had the following to say about love for our wives.

“Contrasting the cavalier attitude that many men had toward marriage, Paul counseled husbands to love their wives. Such consideration prevents the physical, emotional, or verbal abuse of their wives.

There is no excuse for a man ever to raise his hand in anger against a woman, especially his wife! Too often, excuses are made for brutish and aggressive behavior. All people are expected to corral their impulses. Nothing that another person does removes the responsibility for self-control from an individual, nor does a believer have the right to resort to violence, especially against a family member.

A husband loving his wife also means that he is to look after her welfare and, as much as possible, meet their needs. This includes financial needs, providing security, intimacy, and sharing in household duties.”

William Barclay notes, "He must regard her, not as a kind of permanent servant, but as the one person whom it is his duty to cherish."

A few verses later in the same fifth chapter of Ephesians, 5:33, we see: “Wives are called to respect their husbands.”

“This covenant, therefore, is not about finding the perfect person, but about perfecting your love for the person you chose, mirroring the self-giving love of Christ. When feelings fade, the covenant commitment remains, providing the secure foundation for love to grow deeper.”

If you find yourself in a place that distorts the marriage covenant, in any way, PLEASE seek counsel from your Pastor/Corps officer, professional help, or someone who you know their marriage is strong and an example to all who know them that they have the kind of marriage God is pleased with - then follow their example and don’t forget to seek the very face of God and do as His Spirit guides you! Keep in mind that He will never guide you down the road to divorce because “God hates divorce.” However, if your marriage takes a wrong turn and you see no other option but divorce, remember to keep God at the very center of this new journey.

Singleness:

Last month we spent entirely on singleness in the lives of Miriam, Jeremiah, and Daniel, and today I say, if you are single, pay close attention to both the covenant and contract. Which one do you wish to live out now as you fall in love with someone you plan to spend forever with?

Malachi 2:16 NLT

“For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel.
“To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,”
says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart;
do not be unfaithful to your wife.”

Friends, keep writing letters like Reagan did. Keep the fire you once had while courting each other, and when or if your marriage turns south, write a love letter to your spouse and court her/him all over again.

A Few Questions to Think About:

• Do I treat my marriage more like a contract (based on conditions) or a covenant (based on commitment)?
• In what area of my life (time, energy, finances) do I need to better reflect the "one flesh" unity with my spouse?
• How can I more actively practice the sacrificial love of Christ toward my spouse this week?