As OneSample

Two Wholes, One Flesh

It feels strange to offer any sort of advice or wisdom concerning marriage being a newly-married man myself. I think it’s much more comforting, for me at least, to see this less as advice and more talking through things I’ve felt and have learned as I approached marriage. 

For our first day, we’re setting up a general theme for the rest of our daily devotions. We’ll dive deep into longer texts, including a revisit to the whole of Matthew 19, but for now, dwell on the passages that were presented today.

I think a crucial element of entering marriage is a correct understanding of who you are. The Bible is very explicit that you weren’t less important before your marriage. Now that you’re married (or have been married for a while), your importance to God hasn’t risen. It’s always been high and your duties as a Christian have been present. Matthew 19:5 points out that the two shall become one flesh.

The striking thing I’ve always considered when reading this text is that two wholes created one flesh. It didn’t take some incomplete ratio of the two of us to make up the whole, but two whole people separately becoming one flesh. You, in yourself, are capable of glorifying and serving God. This isn’t all that revolutionary of a theory when we consider that Jesus never married and it seems as if Paul never married either. Both certainly accomplished much for the glory of God. What a comfort that can be for single people who aren’t blessed with a help meet.

But you are one flesh now that you’re married. So now what? Rejoice! God purposed your marriage and it was in His plan that you would join together and not serve God separately, but as one! He who finds a wife finds a good thing (Proverbs 18:22). You should be thankful that God worked through each of your lives and brought you together. You have a new role as husband and wife (which we’ll discuss tomorrow).

Spending over 6 months in premarital counseling before the wedding day prompted many conversations concerning finances, communication, family, and a whole lot more, but the whole of it can be essentially summed up by our verses found in Galatians 5:16-25. Walk by the spirit and live out the fruits of the spirit. Always so easily said, but never so easily accomplished. Respect each other, listen to one another, sacrifice, and love Jesus. Your love is imperfect and it will always be so. May we rest in the perfect love of Jesus Christ.

Uncommen Questions::

1. How important are you to God?

2. What new roles do we take on as Husband and Wife?

Uncommen Challenge::

 Serve God, together. You are now one and you’re meant to serve as one.

Scripture References:
Proverbs 18:22
Matthew 19:5
Galatians 5:16-25