Devotionals by Brian Goins

That Tantalizing Sneak Peak
By Lisa Lakey

Smooching, kissing, making out, snogging. Whatever you want to call it, a good kiss is unlike anything else. Well, almost.

I’ve noticed in my own marriage that kissing matters. It’s one of the many ways my relationship with my husband certainly looks different than any other relationship.

Even when we’re at odds, a kiss seems like a coming together of sorts. It reminds us we can disagree and still come back to each other again, still press through the air that separates us.

It’s that way with other things in marriage, too. Particularly sex.

Someone once told me the Bible makes around 70 references to sex. I haven’t personally counted, so I have no idea if this is true. But it had me intrigued.

If God thought it was important enough to mention again and again, we should be listening.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 7:3, “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.” He goes on to state that we don’t even have authority over our own bodies. Our spouses do. My body belongs to my husband and his to me. This isn’t license for us to take each other for granted. But it is a call to generosity and an invitation to intimacy.

When you are given something precious to oversee, you take care of it, right? Our spouse’s bedroom needs should be no different from that stewardship. Making sure those needs are met not only benefits us physically (lots of science backs this up), but it cares for the relationship. It helps maintain the oneness God gifted to your marriage (See Genesis 2).

And kissing? It’s like a preview to enjoying that oneness. No, it doesn’t always lead to the feature, but it gives you a good glimpse of it.

How would you rate your kissing? Consider taking the 30-second kiss challenge.

The Good Stuff: Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (1 Corinthians 7:5)

Action Points: Make a point to kiss your spouse (make it a good one!) at least three times each day: In the morning, when you come together after work, and before bed. As much as possible, let that kiss be a preview to something more.

Visit the FamilyLife® Website