Pursuing Love While Considering DivorceSample

Sin Corrupts Marriage

God established marriage in the very beginning. Before the enemy brought in sin, before humanity became corrupted, Adam and Eve lived as one flesh, united together by God through marriage. 

As soon as sin entered into the story, though, that perfect unity broke apart instantly. 

Both Adam and Eve knew not to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but the Serpent led Eve towards the tree, tempting her with the attractive fruit that would “make one wise.”  

During this time, Adam was nowhere near her. 

Sin entered in when the two were apart. 

Later, Eve offers the fruit to Adam, having him join her in sin, and instead of resisting, he participates as well. Now both have sinned.

When God questions them about their sin, Adam immediately casts blame on Eve, separating himself from her and effectively declaring that they are not one flesh, but rather, two separate people with no special connection. 

Sin does this to marriage. It causes us to view the spouse as an “other” and not as part of ourselves. Sin causes us to cast blame and to make excuses for our own mistakes. It causes strife and leads to mental, emotional, and physical separation.

When the Serpent approaches Eve, he also causes her to distrust God. “Did God really say?” The strongest weapon against sin is a deep affection for God and a complete trust in Him. Do you lean on Him when you encounter sin in your marriage? Or do you run from him like Adam and Eve try to do?

As you read through the scriptures today, pray that God would reveal the ways that sin has entered into your marriage. Pray that He would help you trust Him more and that He would restore the unity between you and your spouse. In the next devotional, we will further examine God’s design for unity in marriage.