08/08/2020
How strong is our love for God? Do we love Him so completely that our every thought includes Him, and we can’t imagine a moment’s existence without Him? Has our love grown so complete that we find ourselves joined as one with Him, and our desires now reflecting His? If this is the case then He will give us what He has Promised, our heart’s desires... Himself.
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4 ESV
My heart is warmed when I see an elderly couple together who have been married for a great many years. There is something about them that is amazing, and demonstrates the truth within a bible verse that most newlyweds think is purely a physical thing...
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
Genesis 2:24 ESV
When we are young and newly married we think this verse is speaking solely of a physical joining; of sex, and children. Our bodies attract one another, and hold us together through hard times, but this is only the beginning.
“So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.””
Matthew 19:6 ESV
But something else is also happening, and that is a spiritual transformation of love from being two people in love, to reaching the point where the couple becomes one, and their deep and abiding love becomes so joined together that they are more than one body, more importantly have become one in spirit. We read of Jesus abiding in God... God abiding in Him... Jesus abiding in us... we abiding in Him... and the Holy Spirit abiding in us. The common theme is unity, or being one, and so it is with us in marriage, we first become one in flesh, but over time we find that our spirits also become joined as one... much like two puzzle pieces.
“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:2-6 ESV
When we are married, and in love for many years we become more and more alike. We walk with the same stride, express ourselves similarly, know one another’s physical likes and dislikes, and are generally comfortable with one another. This doesn’t mean that we sacrificed our individuality, it means that we have surrendered ourselves, and learned to love one another’s differences, shortcomings, and often making the habits and characteristics of the other our own. Two puzzle pieces forming one image. Our faith, and love for God is like this.
“In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.””
Ephesians 5:28-31 ESV
When we are joined together With God in love we learn who He is, coming to know His likes, dislikes, and what it takes to please Him. We delight ourselves in Him, and long for Him to be delighted in us. In this way we can understand our opening verse (Mat 19:6)... we give gifts to our spouse because we take great delight in them, and they in us, and we can give them exactly what pleases them because we know each other so intimately. This is what our complete love for God brings, and is exactly why He loves us, and gives us our delights, and His blessings.
So back to the elderly couple... What amazes me about them isn’t that they hold hands, or show physical intimacy towards one another, it’s how they are so incredibly comfortable together, and how what was once two separate spirits within them seems to have become as one. Just as they became one flesh, but still have two bodies, so it is that they have become one spirit, but still have two souls. All of this, both of faith, and marriage, having resulted from love.
So let’s ask ourselves the questions again, and determine where in the transformation of our body and spirit we find ourselves...
“ How strong is our love for God? Do we love Him so completely that our every thought includes Him, and we can’t imagine a moment’s existence without Him?”
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the love that you pour out upon us, and have breathed into us along with life itself. That’s you for loving us so much that you sent your only begotten Son to suffer, die, and be resurrected so that we would be saved. Thank you Lord for calling us to faith, and making us a part of the Church which is destined to become the bride of your Son Jesus... one flesh, and one spirit. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who has loved us always, and who longs for us to love you fully. Praised be your name for each of our desires that you give us as gifts when we delight in you. Help us to believe in you more, to love you with all our hearts, and to accept your spirit into ourselves... making us one. Strong are you who is spirit, and incredible is your desire to love us, just as you have led us to love you, and worship you, in spirit and truth. Teach us to glorify you in all that we do, but especially in our love for you. Merciful are you who loved us while we were yet sinners, and great are you for freely pouring out your grace upon us as it flows from your Holy vessel Jesus Christ. Forgive us Father for every sin; those we committed knowingly, those we have committed unknowingly, and especially those we commit out of disobedience by our omission. Wash us clean in the blood of Jesus, and lead us to your table where we can dine with you forevermore... your children, and joint heirs with Jesus.
Rich Forbes