[Paul] is able to tie the original statement about marriage in Genesis 2 to Jesus and the church. As one commentator put it, “Paul saw that when God designed the original marriage He already had Christ and the church in mind. This is one of God’s great purposes in marriage: to picture the relationship between Christ and His redeemed people forever!” . . . This is the secret—that the gospel of Jesus and marriage explain one another. That when God invented marriage, he already had the saving work of Jesus in mind. (Hardcover, pp. 46–47; paperback, pp. 42–43)
REPAIRING THE WORLD. All that God has created and achieved in history has been working toward one single goal—the redemption and sanctification of his people. In assuming the role of servant-leader or suitable helper, husbands and wives are caught up into the great dance that is restoring the universe (see yesterday’s devotional).39 The requirements of marriage make us more servant-hearted like Jesus, whose very nature is to give up power and privilege to serve others.40 Thus marriage works at two levels. Marriage makes us into the kind of people who serve others and can repair the world in general. But it also teaches us to love and serve our spouses in particular. That can make us something beautiful—“radiant” and “unstained” (Ephesians 5:27).
Reflection: List the aspects of marriage that reveal something about God’s relationship to his people. Try to have at least ten examples. There are many more.
Thought for prayer: Thank God that, in his love for us, he does not leave us as we are, but finds ways to wake us up and move us to make changes we need to make for his sake, our sakes, and for the sakes of all those around us.