Top X July 24, 2025 Devotional

GENESIS 2:24-25 | ²⁴ Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. ²⁵ And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

I have listened to men and women tell the stories of their courtships and marriages, of the challenges involved in two becoming one while still remaining individuals. It is not easy, because of the narcissism that comes naturally to all of us, to move beyond self-interest, beyond reciprocal exchange, to unconditional commitment for the good of another. But this is the path of genuine love, the path of holiness. In this sense, marriage is a training ground for lovers. Fixation on happiness, which can be sought directly and which fluctuates wildly, is not a sufficient goal for the soul. We were made to love, truly and unselfishly, in deep connection to love’s source, our Heavenly Father.

How has promise keeping advanced your holiness?

Gracious God,

I want to move beyond self-interest, beyond reciprocal exchange. Train me in unconditional love. Put me on the path to holiness.

Amen.