Ephesians 5:31-33

31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. 33 Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.

Questions to consider:

• Read Genesis 2:24 (the verse from which verse 31 comes). What is the context of the original verse?
• Does the context in Genesis help you understand its use here?
• What is a great mystery? What do you think the author means?
  

Possibilities for prayer:

It seems pretty relevant that a husband and wife become one flesh. Even thinking back to the verses from yesterday, we've been told (and know ourselves) that we must care properly for our bodies in order to live healthy lives. If a husband and wife become "one flesh," then it follows that they should be mutually interested in caring for each other. If this idea, as the author suggests, can be extended and applied to Christ and the Church, we should all be mutually interested in caring for each other, as we are all members of the church and body.

Who knew that all these lessons for married people could be relevant for the not married folk as well! Let's show some of the care that we are called to have for the members of our body by taking some time to pray for others. Maybe you know of particular people who are in need of prayer, or maybe you want to pray for the church more broadly--unity, peace, and spirit-filled-ness are probably all good places to start. Ask God that you might become even better at showing care and concern for the other members of this body, and start through prayer today.