One: A Marriage Devotional by Jimmy EvansSample

Naked and Unashamed And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:25) It is interesting that when God created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He created them naked and without any shame related to it. The word “naked” in Genesis 2:25 means “to be exposed.” In other words, God created marriage to be a place where you could totally expose yourselves to each other—mentally, emotionally, spiritually, sexually, and physically—without shame. This is what makes intimacy on every level possible in marriage. When you are truly “naked” without shame in marriage, you can share your lives with each other. You have unhindered access to each other. You can talk about anything without fear. You can express your sexuality without inhibition. You can share your darkest feelings and brightest dreams with each other without a thought of future reproach. All of this is true under one condition—that the relationship remains pure. You see, when Adam and Eve were created, they were naked without shame until sin entered into the relationship. Once they sinned, they could no longer trust each other. Paradise was lost as they both retreated under fig leaves and shivered in fear, separated from intimacy with God and each other. The good news is this—couples can find their way back to paradise. It begins as you take responsibility for your actions and apologize for any damaging behavior. As you both do this, you will create an atmosphere of purity in your relationship—the fig leaves will be removed and your intimacy will return. To keep the purity in your relationship, you must be careful in how you treat each other. You also must monitor your words, attitudes, and actions to make sure you don’t become sloppy and take each other for granted. When you make a mistake, apologize quickly. This is the only way to create a “naked” marriage the way God intended. Talk It Out | In what areas of your marriage are you reluctant to let down your guard and become “naked” before each other (mentally, emotionally, spiritually, sexually, physically)? Talk about mistakes you have made and positive changes you can make to improve your level of intimacy. Walk It Out | Tell each other about a specific dream you have for the future. Take the initial steps toward letting yourself be vulnerable, and be sure to affirm each other and let each other know that your marriage is a safe place to be open and honest.