Mary, the mother of Jesus was a virgin when she gave birth to our Savior.
But legends have grown up around her through the ages. One of them which is not inspired is the idea that Mary remained a virgin all her life; the Bible does not say so.
But if that were true, then it would mean that in God's sight virginity within marriage is more "holy" living than living in the normal God-given marriage relation of husbands and wives.
The Bible is clear that husbands and wives should live together in the God-given relationship of male and female as God has created us.
(a) A widely accepted distortion of the truth of marriage is the source of enormous confusion and immorality.
(b) The Bible is clear: "Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not the other; except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency" (1 Cor. 7:3-5).
(c) Another version has it this way: "The husband must give the wife what is due to her, and equally the wife must give the husband his due. The wife cannot claim her body as her own; it is her husband's.
(d) "Equally, the husband cannot claim his body as his own; it is his wife's. Do not deny yourselves to one another, except when you agree to devote yourselves to prayer for a time and to come together again afterwards; otherwise, through lack of self-control, you may be tempted by Satan" (NEB).
(e) Clear, delightful common sense! All that the Bible teaches about males and females is that!
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
