Devotional - 98-10-17 - In the Beginning

The Genesis Series, Part 7

I think some things that God did are amazing. The Creation of a material universe from unseen substance, the fellowship with man, the garden He planted, the animals and birds, trees that He populated, His Creation with are astounding. Yet the most astounding thing I think He did, was realize that it was not good for Adam to be alone and so He created Eve to fill a deep need in Adams life. He created a blessed companionship. And yes all scripture quoted will be from the 1901 ASV Bible unless othrwise noted.

I think marriage is the most sacred and holy gift given to man by God. I am absolutely blessed by my wife. She is a gift from God.

Genesis 2:18 And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.

Genesis 2:21-24 And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof: and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah

I know that I love God and I am so thankful that He has given me Sandy (my wife). She is precious to me. Let me tell you about a real proverbs 31 Lady. The woman gets up and not only feeds, clothes, and cares for our four children There are plenty before school needs that four children have. Five days a week she cares for the needs of six to ten other children who spend the day with her between the hours of 6am and 6pm as she does daycare (and I do mean care). Before this each morning she works on the CF prayer pages and enters notes from 3 Bibles which span 105 years of Christianity throughout the lives of three men. I know what God wanted for men when he created a helpmate for them. I think the Lord's most marvelous creation was when he created women.

My wife could care less about the material things of this world. If you visit our home it may be clean and it may not. What is more important around here are people. She has helped more people without ever being noticed for doing so then I can count. She also cares for the elderly and poor like they are one of our family. And she is the most beautiful girl in the world to me. I hope that every man who is married can look at his wife and say the same things about her. I see her in the short time she has each morning writing to people who have multiple sclerosis offering them encouragement and real friendship and as always, everything she does has a lot of Jesus attached to it also. She is a praying woman too. A woman who has sacrificed much of her time for the benefit of others. And she is not a woman who is a stranger to sorrows. Perhaps this is why she has such a big heart. I truly love her.

As her husband I sometimes am amazed with the generosity the love and the just plain hard work she puts into everything she does for every life she touches. She believes in doing what is right and being faithful today. At church she again finds interest in the children and the hurting ones, the people who have real needs. Her faith is filled with deeds and done quietly. She wants no reward this side of Heaven but realizes her treasure is secure in a place where moth and rust do not decay. Her philosophy is a great one she believes that God will provide the tools we need to do what He wants us to do and so we aren't really concerned with the "things" we don't have. She knows if it is in His Will for us to minister to others God will give us the pail the water and the towel, and I could give you a list a mile long of His faithfulness to us in that regard.

I guess by now some of you are saying whats the point in all this Rick? My point is this folks, in the beginning God created the institution of "Holy" matrimony. Today too many folks settle or look for matrimony and "cleave" off the Holy part. I'm not going to lecture you - I'm just going to tell you plain and simple -It aint worth it. I was speaking to one of our other Devotional writers Mike the other day about some things and He qouted me a verse in our discussion that I will paraphrase and it went without vision men perish. Friends if you are married grab that "holy" vision for your marriage. If you are not married please hold fast and seek the vision of holiness and hard work together. Hold fast to the vision the Lord truly wants so that His blessing may be full in your life. Most importantly the lives of others he would bring across your path He would bless through your faithfulness as you journey through life. Deny yourself, pick up your rugged cross of splinters and sacrifice and often times pain and do it Gods way and forget about being somebody just reach somebody in Spirit and in Truth. You are an ambassador of Heaven. When Christ Jesus appears and you are given your place in the Eternal Kingdom you will not only have the peace of mind knowing you are blessed with great gifts to do His will now but forever. Such is the goodness and provision of God and His desire for a Holy marriage.

In His Service,
liv4yeshua@cfdevotionals.org