What Jesus Did! 'God Joined' — Mark 10:7-9

Monday, July 8, 2024

[Jesus continued his teaching about marriage:] "'This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.' Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together."
— Mark 10:7-9 NLT

Key Thought

God has the power to make two people one. Marriage is not primarily about a wedding, but about a man and a woman entering into a covenant relationship with each other and with God. God is the greater party in the covenant. In their marriage, the man and the woman give their highest allegiance and commitment to God. There will be times when each spouse will, unfortunately, disappoint the other one or let him or her down. But, God wants them to remember that their highest priority is not treating their spouse as he or she deserves, but as God would have them be treated. Honoring God in the way they treat each other is the key to marriage as God sees it. God wants husbands and wives to understand that breaking a marriage apart is an offense against God — he is the one who makes couples one, and their covenant relationship is primarily with him as well as with each other. God hates covenants made with him to be broken.

Today's Prayer

O God, please give your people a deeper appreciation of what it means to enter into covenant with you when they marry. I am concerned about all the money we spend on wedding ceremonies when there sometimes is so little appreciation for the covenant relationship that begins when a couple is married. Help me, O God, to be a covenant-keeper and a person who encourages others to be loyal to you and the covenants they make with you and with each other. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Malachi 2:13-15
  • Exodus 19:5-6
  • Psalm 25:10

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Illustration

Illustration of Mark 10:7-9 NLT — "'This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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