Biblical Intimacy - The One Year Love Language Minute Devotional

Biblical Intimacy

[Eve] took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

Genesis 3:6-7

WHAT IS THE BIBLICAL PICTURE of intimacy in marriage? It’s found in Genesis 2:25: “The man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.” This is a vivid image of marital intimacy: two distinct persons, equal in value, totally transparent, and without fear of being known. It is that kind of openness, acceptance, trust, and excitement to which we refer when we use the word intimacy.

But this was before sin entered the picture. It’s interesting that Adam and Eve’s immediate response to eating the forbidden fruit was to feel shame at their nakedness and cover themselves. In other words, after sin there were clothes. Something came between Adam and Eve, and they were no longer transparent. They were no longer willing to be freely known; now they had to work at intimacy.

The same is true for us. Because we are fallen creatures, we sometimes fear being known. Why? Because with intimacy comes the possibility of condemnation and rejection. To overcome that fear, we must develop a relationship of trust with our spouse.

Father God, our struggles with intimacy go all the way back to Adam and Eve and the first sin. I confess to you my fear of being fully known to another person, even my spouse. Please help us as a couple to work to overcome these fears and become as one.

Intimacy