Gen. 2:22-25 - Helpmeets

Genesis 2:22-25:
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.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Our world seems to be going through a shift in its paradigm...

Marriage is slowly changing from something more than a man and a woman -- to include a man "married" to a man, or a woman "married" to a woman.

Many states in the US are now considering changing laws to include such marriage definitions as legal relationships.

Even a quick glance at this passage, however, gives you a clear understanding of God's reason for marriage to only be between a man and a woman. There is a purpose for it -- to be "helpmeets" to each other.

Adam could find no suitable mate in God's other creatures (not even "man's best friend,") and so God created a special mate -- one from man's own body.

The fact that they were naked together, and had no shame, points to the intimacy of their relationship. It also points to what Heaven will be like as well -- a place where we all will have a relationship so close that we will "have nothing to hide" from each other.

Not that we will be "naked" in Heaven -- but that we will be as transparent to each other.

Consider what your current relationship is to your fellow Christian brothers and sisters... Are you developing close bonds? Or staying a bit distant?

Remember -- these are the ones with whom eternity will be spent!

Luke 2:5 - Joseph: A Good Father

LUKE 2:5
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

How little credit we give to Joseph. He had to be a man of great faith, discipline and love. In a time when such things were not acceptable, he was seen as a man who had had sex with a woman before they were married.

Now, at the time and location of this verse, most would have no idea, but back home in Bethlehem, I am sure many knew the dates of events, and doing the math, had a very suspicious thought about the morality of Joseph and Mary.

Joseph could have washed his hands of the whole "mess," and in fact had contemplated how he could leave Mary, and do it in a way that her reputation might not be trashed.

Had it not been for a visit from the angel, Jesus might have been from a broken home. Mary might have had to lead a much different life. Jesus might have been an only child.

However, Joseph was a man of faith and character. When he was presented with the whole situation, he was determined to do the right thing.

What would it be like for him -- knowing his first child was not his? Was it any consolation to him to know who the real father was?

Joseph apparently deserves more credit than we give him, for sure. Jesus followed in Joseph's steps as a carpenter, so He learned a skill from him. Joseph was also the one who modeled what a father was to Jesus. How many times did Jesus refer to God as a father, and yet maybe we were shown a part of that role being played by Joseph?

The role of the father is an important one.  I wish the world's men understood that role better.