March 13, 2008

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
   
--Genesis 2:24

At the beginning of time, God designed a model for what marriage should be—His way!

The Lord said in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” And then the key statement is found in today’s verse  which says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

God desired a wife for Adam, so He designed and delivered her. It wasn’t an accident of creation, but it was a divine origin of new beginnings and a permanent commitment between this first couple.

God’s purpose was that one man and one woman would live together for life. The woman was and is to be her husband’s helper for companionship, cooperation, completion, and communication. 

God also created Adam and Eve to be transparent, vulnerable, and accepting of one another. They had an intimate love, without fear. God’s intention for the marriage between Adam and Eve was to be divine in origin, supreme in relationship, permanent in condition, and filled with a mutual submission. I believe these biblical principles hold true today as well!

Your marriage may be hanging by a thread… or you may think it is good, but could definitely use some improvements. Remember that love is like a garden that must be cultivated and nurtured to grow. It takes time together and unconditional love to make it work.

I challenge you today to build your marriage on the principles I have outlined above.  If you do, then when the rains and storms come, your marriage will not be shaken because it is built upon the sure and eternal truth of God’s Word!

LOVE IS LIKE A GARDEN THAT MUST BE CULTIVATED AND NURTURED TO GROW.