Isaiah - Verse By Verse | Walk thru Eph #129

Walk thru Eph #129

versebyverse | April 07, 2008 19:18

Thought: To me, the beautiful way God has engineered the institution of marriage is a thrilling and amazing statement of Christ's condescension.

Question: Is the sacrificial love of Christ reflected in my marriage?

Scripture: Ephesians 5:31 (NIV): " 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' "

Now we have Paul quoting the scripture to which I've previously referred, Genesis 2:24. Early on God laid down this truth. Notice how the idea of "divide and multiply" comes out here: the elderly parents "lose" their child so that children can be "gained." A separate family unit is produced. Just as this father and mother became one flesh to produce this husband, so he has to break away from that family unit, unite with his wife and become "one flesh" with her (in sexual union) to produce their children.

So Christ suffered loss in death in order to "bring many sons unto Glory." Christ went down so many could go up. Christ died so all of us could live. Christ left His heavenly Father so that new children could be added, and He did so, "marrying" Himself to His Bride, The Church, becoming one spiritually with all of us. What a gift we have in Christ!! Do we realize the power our "husband, Christ" has over us?

If anyone wonders to what extent a man "leaves his father and mother" to be successfully freed for a wife, let him look at what Jesus experienced when He left His heavenly Father. Many things changed for Jesus when He gave up Heaven! He willingly limited Himself for our sakes.

Prayer: Lord, help us to relinquish self-love in our marriages. Help us to unite with our mates in a way that glorifies Your Son. Amen.