God, help me embrace Your standards for marriage so my marriage will glorify You.

Genesis 2:24 “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

Genesis 1 records God’s wisdom and power as He speaks the world into existence.
Genesis 2 records God’s love for humanity as He tenderly forms man with His hands and personally breathes life into him. Then God placed man in a luxurious garden and gave him meaningful work. God knew it was not good for man to be alone, so He made a suitable helper – woman – God’s first love gift to man.

We all know men and women are different, but they are also more alike than anything in creation. god made a woman to be man’s ideal counterpart in this world.

When Adam saw her, he burst forth in praise saying, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” (Genesis 2:23). I think Adam liked what he saw.

There in that perfect garden, marriage had its beginning. God specifically and intentionally created and established marriage to be between one man and one woman.

“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

What do Scripture’s first words about marriage teach us?

There should be a PRIORITY to the marriage relationship, which means leaving our parents and becoming one.

Marriage should be PERMANENT because “hold fast” means, “to cling, cleave, keep close.”

There should also be ONENESS in marriage. One man. One woman. One flesh.

And there should be OPENNESS and PURITY in marriage. “Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” (Genesis 2:25). They had nothing to hide and no barriers between them.

These are God’s standards for marriage, and He is glorified when we embrace them and apply them. Not only that, marriage is a picture of the relationship between Christ and the Church, so they apply to our relationship with Him as well.

As members of Christ’s holy Church, our relationship with Him should be a priority, it should be permanent, and there should be oneness, openness and purity in our relationship with Christ. Our greatest, deepest satisfaction of soul and purpose for life is found in a right relationship with God.