Meditation

06/21/2022

“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’ Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam, no suitable helper was found. God the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman, for she was taken out of man.’ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:18-24)

One of God’s basic purposes for marriage is companionship. Companions help one another, are suitable or compatible for one another, and are able to stand alongside and share their personal lives. The unique quality quality of this companion was demonstrated when Adam could not find a creature corresponding to himself among the animals he was commissioned to name. Built from a portion of man’s side, the suitable companion shares the same physical nature. The basic implication of the text focuses on the similarity of man and woman and on their mutual need for each other. Because of their similarity, the man and woman can marry and establish a one flesh union that takes priority over all other family relationships, even though they are not exactly the same physically.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, You intended marriage to meet the basic human need of love and companionship; this expression describing this companion literally means “a helper corresponding to him” or “a helper along of of him, a beautiful description of the relationship which Gd intends between husband and wife. Today we continue to pray for those who are suffering in body, mind, and/or spirit, with friends, family, for those we don’t know, especially the people in Ukraine, as they are fighting for their very lives and way of life. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Ever been between a rock and a hard place? Then thanks the Lord, because it’s good to be next to the Rock when you are in a hard place!”

KNOWING GOD:

“Then, Manoah prayed to the Lord: ‘O Lord, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.’” (Judges 13:8)

The prayer models for all Christian parents the need for God’s guidance in the nurture and education of children. Even though Samson did not fulfill in his personal life the desires of his parents, the commitment of Manoah an his wife to the Lord is exemplary and shows wisdom in their commitment to God.

I AM:

“Whomever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid” (Proverbs 12:1)

Parents must discipline children for the children to have a chance in life. Without discipline and correction we need learn. Many verses in Proverbs stress the value of discipline in child guidance and point out the foolishness of resisting discipline. In today’s times, many people think discipline is beating children and this is not discipline. Teaching discipline is essential in their development. Too many parents today want to be “friends” with their children and they will make many friends in their life time, but in the early development years, they need guidance and discipline on how to behave with other children, with adults, in school, in church and in a variety of other situations that they will encounter. Those who beat their children have more serious problems than bad parenting techniques.

2ND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with here in body? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh.’ But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” (1^st Corinthians 6: 15-17)

Sexual union is God’s plan to create physical and emotional unity in the marriage relationship. Such unity is the foundation of the family. Participation in such union outside the marriage commitment destroys family and betrays our commitment to Christ to whose body we belong and to whom we are united in spiritual union as His bride. Sexual activity is not a right and/or need for every individual to be satisfied the easiest way possible. Sexual activity is demonstration of commitment and unity within the family. Paul used this imagery of the church as the body of Christ in different ways in various contexts. Apparently a Corinthians Christians had used his freedom in Christ as a license for immorality, and some of the church approved. These people misunderstood the meaning of grace and the nature of the Christ life. Paul reminded the people that they were the body of Christ. Each person was a member of Christ, and, as such, could not be united with immorality. Since God owns us by the power of Christ’s death on the cross, all our actions must subjected to Him. Christ defines and determines all our relationships and actions. For the prostitute, whether male or female, one must not engage in prostitution. It is a sin and separates all who participate in this act, must confess our sins, with sincerity and with penitent hearts, to find forgiveness and renewal of your relationship with our Lord and Savior.