UNITY IN MARRIAGE

A man shall leave his father and his mother, and

be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

Genesis 2:24

This verse, the "leaving and cleaving" verse, is God's original blueprint of how marriage is supposed to work. We are to become one with our mate. Knit together. When we marry, we leave our parents. Of course we still respect and honor them but they -our parents- must now step into a role of counselors to be respected instead of someone who can "tell us what to do."

When we "cleave" to our husband at marriage, we are clinging to him as our rock of refuge and safety. He is now going to love you as Christ loved the church and is going to be the spiritual leader of your home.

When we leave our parents and marry, we are creating that oneness, that unity with our husband. There is now oneness in decision making, priorities, and goals. This is how God wants marriage to be, with the husband and wife united as one.

It is hard. It is hard to be united with this unique oneness when we are actually two different people with two different ways. If you had a good father who took good care of your mother and his family, it can be hard to leave and wonder if your husband will take good care of you. If you had an absent father, it can be hard wondering if your husband will leave.  

While unity in marriage is hard, it is God's design which tells us it is achievable. When we put God at the center, we can create that oneness. Whether you have been married two years, twenty years, or forty years, strive to create unity with your husband.