Soul Mates
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
(Genesis 2:18-25)
Over the next few days, we are going to explore what the Bible teaches us about some of the different relationships in our lives. Today, we will start with marriage but we will move on in the next few days to look at singleness, divorce and friendship. There are many ways in which we can reflect the three-in-one glory of the Lord.
It’s significant, however, that the Bible both begins and ends with a marriage. It begins with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and it ends with Jesus and his Bride, the Church, in the new heavens and new earth that are to come. The Apostle Paul explains to us in Ephesians 5:22-33 that every good husband reflects the way that Jesus lays down his life for the Church, and that every good wife reflects the way that we are to honour and obey Jesus.
You have probably noticed that marriage is under real attack in our culture. It is rare to see a good depiction of marriage in the media. Husbands are weak or bullying. Wives are manipulative or domineering. The Devil loves to use such media stereotypes to undermine the glory of God reflected in marriage, but he loves it even more if he can make them a reality in our lives. Pray for the marriages at Everyday Church, that God will make every husband and wife a true reflection of the greatest romance of history – the love story of Jesus and the Church.
It’s significant, however, that the Bible both begins and ends with a marriage. It begins with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and it ends with Jesus and his Bride, the Church, in the new heavens and new earth that are to come. The Apostle Paul explains to us in Ephesians 5:22-33 that every good husband reflects the way that Jesus lays down his life for the Church, and that every good wife reflects the way that we are to honour and obey Jesus.
You have probably noticed that marriage is under real attack in our culture. It is rare to see a good depiction of marriage in the media. Husbands are weak or bullying. Wives are manipulative or domineering. The Devil loves to use such media stereotypes to undermine the glory of God reflected in marriage, but he loves it even more if he can make them a reality in our lives. Pray for the marriages at Everyday Church, that God will make every husband and wife a true reflection of the greatest romance of history – the love story of Jesus and the Church.
1) If you are married, be honest with the Lord about your challenges. Ask him to empower you through the Holy Spirit to live out your wedding vows. The one to whom you made the vows wants to help you to fulfil them!
2) Think about your married friends. What can their love for one another teach you about the love of Jesus for his Church, and about the love of the Church for Jesus?
3) We will look at singleness, divorce and loneliness over the next few days, but somebody has said that a bad marriage can be the loneliest place of all. Many of the marriages around you are under pressure in this season. Take some time to pray for the marriages around you today.
2) Think about your married friends. What can their love for one another teach you about the love of Jesus for his Church, and about the love of the Church for Jesus?
3) We will look at singleness, divorce and loneliness over the next few days, but somebody has said that a bad marriage can be the loneliest place of all. Many of the marriages around you are under pressure in this season. Take some time to pray for the marriages around you today.
Father God, I thank you that you have chosen to reveal something of your glory through our human marriages. I thank you that you are even more passionate to make marriages strong than those who are in them. Please bless and strengthen the marriages across Everyday Church. May they proclaim the love of Jesus to the world. Amen.
If you have time, consider carrying on your conversation with God using one of our helpful Prayer Pathways.
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.