NIV 365 / The Story

The NIV 365-Day Devotional Reading Plan

Day 262 of 365 The Story So if God possesses both masculine and feminine characteristics, why did he make two genders? Read God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit - he is a social being. The three members of the Trinity interact among themselves. But when God made Adam, he saw that Adam was alone. "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him' " (Genesis 2:18). Adam could communicate with God, but he was missing a peer, an equal, to relate with on his level. So God created Eve - Adam's counterpart, his complement, his friend. Think There's an even bigger reason why God created two genders: God is the Master Storyteller. God made the two genders so they would be an illustration of his great story - the story that ends with us, the church, marrying Jesus at a huge wedding party (see Revelation 19:6 - 9). Relationships between men and women are a picture, a retelling, of the story of Jesus and his bride, the church. Referring to Genesis 2:24, the apostle Paul wrote, " 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church" (Ephesians 5:31 - 32). Live Each interaction you have with the opposite gender is an opportunity for you to mirror Jesus' relationship with the church: Build that person up, make him or her more beautiful, strong, courageous. God designed it so that you have the ability to bring out the best in members of the opposite sex as you interact with them. And just as Jesus is patiently waiting for his bride to be made complete, you should wait for your Adam or your Eve. Keep yourself pure, prepare yourself for him or her. And even if you don't find your Adam or your Eve, the reality is that one day you will be married - to Jesus. Taken from NIV The Great Rescue Bible Ephesians 5:31-32 Ephesians 5:31-32 KJV 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.