CWW Week 15 - Day 1 - God In The Family
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Scripture.
Ephesians 5:25:
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her…”
Devotional
In a world where we have all but lost total faith in all our earthly institutions, there is one that has always stood the test of time in spite of severe attack from the enemy of souls. Marriage has never been more under attack than right now.
Marriage equality laws and a new left wing agenda has placed the searing heat of condemnation on anything sanctified by God. Rampant feminism and now outrageous notions on gender cancelation are undermining the sanctity of marriage.
Single parent families and domestic violence have punctured God’s eternal plan for family. Kindness and respect are the corner stone of a healthy family life and this is constantly being eroded.
Todays scripture starts by placing the emphasis on men. “Husbands, love your wives; Lets examine that before we go further.
What does it mean for a husband to love his wife and how is that experienced in a fruitful way for both spouses? We know that we are created in Gods image and that means that our spouses are also created in His image. Matthew 5:9 exhorts us to live in meekness. Meekness is the opposite of narcism. A meek man is not a week man but a strong man. He sees his bride as someone to be cherished and not controlled. That she should fly as God intended, without being coerced through the insecurity of her spouse.
Men were always meant to be hunters, gatherers and protectors. To stand on the wall on the watch for danger and to seek to provide for the needs of the family. She was always meant to be a mother, homemaker and nurturer.
In a kind and respectful relationship built on God’s principles, the pair blend in nicely together covering all the bases so that the family unit, with all the offspring can grow in love and security.
The greatest gift we can give our children is a happy marriage. Children grow strong and happy when they know that there parents are happy.
They grow as a bi-product of their parents love and affection for each other. This can only happen if we take the drastic step of putting our spouse ahead of our children. Yes you heard me. Our spouse must be more important than our children. If we fail to do this by meeting each other’s emotional needs then a crack appears. The neglected spouse feels empty and is a sitting duck for an extra marital affair. Toxic anxiety and depression can ensue and evil wins as the family unit is destroyed.
A feeling of being disconnected and unloved leads many men to a sense of rage, and it seems that they have become a source of income and that’s it.
There is never enough money and never enough time and the frustrations builds and explodes. This phenomena is killing families literally as murder suicide rates go through the roof.
Paul encourages us to love our wives as Christ loves the church and be prepared to die for her.
When we love our wives in that way, her love for us is unconditional as the family grows in respect and kindness.
This week we will examine the mechanism built into a fruitful marriage as it was always meant to be from creation.
Surely now we need Men and Women to stand together in a union around Jesus as the central cord. Men must realise that the journey starts and finishes with us. If we are to be the protectors we must ensure that our wives are safe….. from us.
It is never too late for us to step back into the breach where we were always meant to be. My life has been punctuated with many examples of how not to do it. I have learned the hard way but my journey is a trip in progress. This week we examine the importance of our role in a happy family.
Questions.
- If we understand that we model marriage to our children, then what are you showing your family through your relationship with your spouse?
- Honestly consider this. Is your spouse the most important person on earth?
- Could you envisage a marriage where your spouse felt the privilege of your devotion?
Prayer.
Dear Lord, Papa God.
I have been misguided and misled all my life. I have failed to see the importance of You in all my relationships, including that with my spouse. I need you Papa to give me a heart of flesh as I bring you to prominence in my marriage. My family needs You. Please strengthen my resolve Papa to put my spouse ahead of all others as Jesus did for His church.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Graham Hood
