July 8 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

By God’s Word and Spirit the world was made, and he uses the same tools to rebuild the creaking cosmos. God does not save some souls from the wreckage of the planet; instead, the whole groaning creation must be delivered from bondage by the love and power of God.

Bible Reading:

Genesis 2:18–25

Bible Text:

A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh (Gen. 2:24).

Devotional:

This is the story of the first wedding. It took place in paradise. God officiated, and the bridegroom sang a song (v. 23). The narrator says that this is God's plan for marriage for all times: A man will leave his parents and unite with his wife. And the two shall be one.

Our sexuality belongs to our humanity. God created us male and female. When boys and girls look at each other, dream of each other, desire each other, they don't have to feel guilty. God created us as sexual beings. Adam and Eve experienced sexual awareness before they sinned, and they were married in paradise. As husband and wife, they were naked and unashamed. They were unafraid and at ease with each other. They were God's gift to each other. Therefore we say of marriage and sexual union, It is good ... it is very good.

However, the most beautiful things in life often become the things most deeply affected by sin. Love can turn to lust, and sexuality may become a fire that burns out of control. All of us need a renewed life and a redeemed sexuality. We must learn from Jesus again how it was "at the beginning" (Matt. 19:4). And we must also remember that sex and marriage are not the most important tilings in life. The highest goal is the kingdom of God.

Thank God, though, for sex and marriage. They are the last flowers of paradise in the cruel climate of this world.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.