Open Heaven 10 June 2025: Cleave as One 2
MEMORISE: Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
READ: Psalms 133:1-3
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
Read Yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional Here
Today, I will continue my discussion on why spouses should cleave together. When a married couple live far apart from each other for a long period of time, they will both begin to change according to their different environments without realising it. As people grow older and have new experiences, they change, and if a married couple are not going through these experiences together, they may become strangers to each other after a while. By the time such couples finally come together, they will likely be shocked by their differences.
It is difficult to cleave as one with someone you are not living with. What creates strong bonds between some siblings is not just the fact that they were born by the same parents but that they grew up together and went through certain experiences together. This is also why childhood friends have a strong bond. If you really want to cleave as one with your spouse, you need to live through experiences together.
You may say, “We talk about our day on the phone every evening,” but that is not the same as physical interaction. When you study the Bible, you will see that couples who relocated did so together. When Abraham relocated to Egypt, he went with Sarah (Genesis 13:1). When Elimelech went to Moab in search of greener pastures, he went with his wife, Naomi (Ruth 1:1). Although their story was tragic, the lesson is that relocation should be a joint venture. When the angel appeared to Joseph to take Jesus to Egypt because of Herod’s murderous intention, the family went together (Matthew 2:13-14).
There may be some unavoidable situations that may require one partner to travel to another location first. However, in such situations, the family should not stay apart for more than six months before they come back together again.
It is not healthy for couples to cause a separation in their marriage just because they want to relocate to another location they consider to be ‘greener pastures’. Anything that will affect the unity of a marriage shouldn’t be considered or permitted. Couples should do everything possible to stay together because God commands it (Mark 10:9). When they are together, it is easier to pray and agree on certain matters. However, when they are in different countries with different time zones, it is more difficult. Cleaving to one’s spouse requires being intentional about bonding, being united, and living through experiences together.
KEY POINT:: It is important for married couples to be intentional about living through life’s experiences together.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 28-33
Open Heaven 10 June 2025
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