Finding the Right Person

15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

- Genesis 2:15-18

God’s divine relationships are built on 3 things:

God’s appointed place

8 Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made.

- Genesis 2:8

God’s appointed purpose

God’s appointed provision

9 The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

- Genesis 2:9

When Love Falls Short

We need to love one another.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

- Ephesians 4:1-3

Our love falls short.

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

- Ephesians 4:29-31

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord…

- Ephesians 4:1

We need to experience God’s love. It is our shelter.

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

- Ephesians 3:17-19

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

- Psalm 46:1

We extend God’s love. It is our standard and source.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

- Ephesians 4:32

God's Purpose for Marriage

​​26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

- Genesis 1:26-28 ESV

Reflection - Marriage is designed to mirror God and his Kingdom.

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

- Genesis 1:27

Replication - Marriage is designed for reproduction and multiplication.

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply…”

- Genesis 1:28

Rulership - Marriage is designed to empower us to act on God’s behalf.

…and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

- Genesis 1:26-28 ESV