A Toy Car and a Testarossa
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” … 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)
25 Husbands, love your wives … 29 just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
(Ephesians 5:25-33)
(Genesis 2:18-25)
25 Husbands, love your wives … 29 just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
(Ephesians 5:25-33)
The Bible’s teaching about marriage is great news for everybody, whether single, married, divorced or widowed. It proclaims that everyone of us is part of a far greater romance that spans the ages – the love story between Jesus and his Church. In comparison to that, even the greatest human marriage is like a toy car next to a Ferrari Testarossa.
Genesis 2 teaches us that God made sex as a precious gift that glues a man and a woman together for life in marriage. It makes them ‘one flesh’ together. Their two bodies become one body, and Ephesians 5 explains that this is a God-given picture of the relationship between Jesus and his Church today. The Bible never says that we are like the Body of Christ. It isn’t a mere metaphor. It’s a reality! The best human marriages point to something even better. They proclaim that those who put their faith in Jesus are now one with him. We have become one flesh with the Messiah!
We are living through a very insecure moment in history, so this is massively encouraging. Jesus the Bridegroom promises his Bride, the Church, that “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” We can be completely honest with him about our weaknesses without fearing that he might ever reject us (Genesis 2:25). We can bring our needs before him, knowing that he cares for our needs as if they were his own (Ephesians 5:29). We can rest secure in the knowledge that God considers us to be united with Jesus through our faith in him (Ephesians 5:30-32). We can no more be separated from Jesus than our head can be separated our body! We are now one with him forever.
Genesis 2 teaches us that God made sex as a precious gift that glues a man and a woman together for life in marriage. It makes them ‘one flesh’ together. Their two bodies become one body, and Ephesians 5 explains that this is a God-given picture of the relationship between Jesus and his Church today. The Bible never says that we are like the Body of Christ. It isn’t a mere metaphor. It’s a reality! The best human marriages point to something even better. They proclaim that those who put their faith in Jesus are now one with him. We have become one flesh with the Messiah!
We are living through a very insecure moment in history, so this is massively encouraging. Jesus the Bridegroom promises his Bride, the Church, that “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” We can be completely honest with him about our weaknesses without fearing that he might ever reject us (Genesis 2:25). We can bring our needs before him, knowing that he cares for our needs as if they were his own (Ephesians 5:29). We can rest secure in the knowledge that God considers us to be united with Jesus through our faith in him (Ephesians 5:30-32). We can no more be separated from Jesus than our head can be separated our body! We are now one with him forever.
1) What do you think it means for us to be ‘united with Jesus’ in God’s eyes? Try to list all of the reasons why that is good news, then take some time to thank God for the glory of these Gospel truths.
2) What do you think it means for us to be ‘the Body of Christ’ on the earth?
3) How should that affect the way you view your Everyday Church brothers and sisters during this scattered season?
4) How might it stir you to make the most of our online and our in-person gatherings during this season?
2) What do you think it means for us to be ‘the Body of Christ’ on the earth?
3) How should that affect the way you view your Everyday Church brothers and sisters during this scattered season?
4) How might it stir you to make the most of our online and our in-person gatherings during this season?
Father God, thank you that I am now one with Jesus. Everything that is true about him is now true about me. Thank you for my brothers and sisters at Everyday Church, and that together you have made us the Body of Jesus. Please fill us with your Holy Spirit to overflowing, and may everybody see the glory of your Son in us. In Jesus’ name, 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.