The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 2:24,
"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."
God designed marriage and we have the implementation of it here for the first time, with the first couple, Adam and Eve: one man and one woman united as "one flesh".
Jesus quoted this verse in Matthew 19:5. He was asked by some Pharisees about divorce, looking to trip him up. Jesus' response also included Genesis 1:27, "male and female". Not male and male and not female and female. Male and female. Marriage is to be between a man and woman only, joined together with the intent of permanence, "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." Matthew 19:6.
In that it is God who joins a man and woman together, he both defines and establishes the marriage. It matters not one whit that our previous president "evolved" on the issue of same-sex marriage, it was not within his purview to redefine it. It is God's and God's alone. In any event, homosexuality is "detestable" in God's sight, "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." Deuteronomy 18:22. That verse sits right beside the one next to it, verse 23, "Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion." I think you get the picture: homosexuality resides in the same neighborhood as bestiality.
When it comes to divorce, Jesus taught no divorce except for sexual immorality, Matthew 19:9. Therefore, divorce has no place among believers. Believers have no business sleeping around or divorcing their spouse. Anyone who says otherwise is not being truthful about the Scriptures. Paul provides some additional teaching in this area in 1 Corinthians 7, especially in the case of an unbeliever wanting to leave the marriage with a spouse who has become a believer. I can't count the number of times I have seen a brother or sister twist themselves into a pretzel to prove their spouse was not a believer so they could feel they would continue to have "God's blessing" as they pursued a divorce.
"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."
God designed marriage and we have the implementation of it here for the first time, with the first couple, Adam and Eve: one man and one woman united as "one flesh".
Jesus quoted this verse in Matthew 19:5. He was asked by some Pharisees about divorce, looking to trip him up. Jesus' response also included Genesis 1:27, "male and female". Not male and male and not female and female. Male and female. Marriage is to be between a man and woman only, joined together with the intent of permanence, "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." Matthew 19:6.
In that it is God who joins a man and woman together, he both defines and establishes the marriage. It matters not one whit that our previous president "evolved" on the issue of same-sex marriage, it was not within his purview to redefine it. It is God's and God's alone. In any event, homosexuality is "detestable" in God's sight, "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." Deuteronomy 18:22. That verse sits right beside the one next to it, verse 23, "Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion." I think you get the picture: homosexuality resides in the same neighborhood as bestiality.
When it comes to divorce, Jesus taught no divorce except for sexual immorality, Matthew 19:9. Therefore, divorce has no place among believers. Believers have no business sleeping around or divorcing their spouse. Anyone who says otherwise is not being truthful about the Scriptures. Paul provides some additional teaching in this area in 1 Corinthians 7, especially in the case of an unbeliever wanting to leave the marriage with a spouse who has become a believer. I can't count the number of times I have seen a brother or sister twist themselves into a pretzel to prove their spouse was not a believer so they could feel they would continue to have "God's blessing" as they pursued a divorce.
In any event, here is where the institution of marriage begins, and it is with Adam and Eve (not Steve!).
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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