My beautiful wife and I have been married now for 2 years. Our anniversary was March 21st and I have just been amazed at how much more I love her each and every day. I think about the times that she is asleep on the couch and I can’t take my eyes off of her. I think about all the times that we laugh together (most of the time it is because I have done something stupid, but we still laugh together anyway). I think about all the times that we don’t even want to go out of the house; we just want to sit and enjoy our time that we have with each other. I think about how far our relationship has grown with each other and with Jesus Christ in the past two years.
That thought leads me back to our wedding day. We chose not to see each other before our wedding in our “fancy clothes”. We wanted it to be a surprise and we wanted to cherish the moment that would bring for the rest of our lives. All I can keep thinking about is the time when my groomsmen and I were standing in the front of the church right before the bride comes down the aisle. I was nervous, excited, scared, and every other emotion that you can think of. I was just a ball of nerves. It was the moment of truth. It was the moment that we both had been waiting for. It was the first time that I would see my wife in her wedding gown. Now I will tell you right now that I knew my wife was the most gorgeous woman on the face of the planet but that moment blew me away. She and her dad rounded the corner and came into view and I could hardly catch my breath. It was the most amazing moment of the whole day for me. I thought about all the times that she went shopping for the dress until she could find the perfect one. I thought about all the time that it took for her to get ready. I can just imagine her sitting in front of the mirror putting on her makeup. I can imagine her getting her hair fixed. I know that she was thinking that everything had to be perfect before she could walk down that aisle, and let me tell you it was perfect!
The Bible compares the relationship of Jesus and His church to that of a Bride and Groom. We, the church of Jesus Christ are the Bride, and Jesus is the Bridegroom. The book in the Bible, “Song of Solomon”, is one of the greatest pictures of the bride-groom relationship. In chapter one verse 15 the bridegroom says “How beautiful you are, my darling. How very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.” In verse sixteen the bride responds, “How handsome you are, my love. How delightful!” You see just as a bride and groom desire a relationship with each other that is both intimacy and passion, Jesus desires that same relationship with His bride. He wants that same kind of lasting relationship with us. Ephesians 5:25 says “Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.”
I stop here and I think back to my wedding. I promised to love my wife with all of my heart no matter what. I promised to love her just as Christ loved His church. I fail everyday in that aspect, but I love her more and more and I never stop trying. Jesus Christ never gave up on me. All the times that He could have, and should have walked away from me, He didn’t. We go through life never thinking about the great “Wedding Day”. We hardly ever think about the magnitude of Jesus’ promise He has given us in the promise of His never-ending love. He loves us so much because one day He wants to bring us ALL back to Him. In verse 27 we see God’s desire for us. “He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.”
My wife spent so much time getting herself perfect for our wedding day. She wanted to look as good as she possibly could. She wanted to present herself to me “in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.”
We can only present ourselves to God without spot or wrinkle if we have the intimate and passionate relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” I pray that you make the decision to say yes when Jesus asks you for your hand in marriage. I hope that you have a place at the table that He has gone ahead to prepare for His bride.
“Thanks Shiann, my wonderful and beautiful wife, for loving me for who I am. Thanks for accepting all of my faults and loving me anyway. Thanks for being my backbone as we go through this life of ministry together. I couldn’t do any of this without you. You are the best wife that any man could ever ask for and I pray that I can present myself to Christ like you presented yourself to me. I can’t wait for that moment of truth when we turn the corner and see Him in all of His glory for the first time! It is going to be awesome to run into the arms of our Savior and King together and tell Him how great and mighty He really is! You are the best and I love you more and more each and every day I spend by your side. Thanks for loving me!”
Friday, April 8, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
"The home should be a self-contained shelter of security; a kind of school where life’s basic lessons are taught; and a kind of church where God is honored." Billy Graham
I stopped for a little while the other day and thought about the impact that I could have on the kids in my community. I really thought about how much I could impact their lives for Christ. I started looking at the times that I am around them. I spend about 2 hours with them on Wednesday nights teaching and telling them about the love of God. I go to their lunches about once a week and spend about 30 minutes with them. I go to some of their softball, baseball, and football games, and I do some of the devotionals at their schools for about 10-15 minutes. Then I asked myself this question: “How can I make the impact that is needed in the lives of these kids if I only get to spend about 3-4 hours a week with them?” There are 168 hours in a week and I can only spend about 3-4 hours with them! Where do they spend the rest of their time? I know they spend 8 hours for 5 days a week at school but that is only 40 hours a week. Teenagers today can spend anywhere from 100-128 hours a week at home. So my next question was how can I offset what they are being taught for 128 hours in 3 hours? I can’t; but, parents, you and God can. The Bible has told us how we are to reach the youth in today’s society. It is not by sending them to church for a few hours a week. It is not letting the school system teach your kid what is right and wrong. It is not having conversations with your kids and never bringing up the name of Jesus.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says “The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Always remember these commands I give you today. Teach them to your children, and talk about them when you sit at home and walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them down and tie them to your hands as a sign. Tie them on your forehead to remind you, and write them on your doors and gates.”
God repeated these commandments over and over because they are so important. God wants parents to teach His commands to their children. He not only wants but commands them to teach it. It is the responsibility of the parent to teach who God is and what He commands us to do and the way He wants us to live. This requires more than just sending them to church. It requires the parent going to church with them. It requires spending time with your children daily telling them about Jesus Christ.
“Never underestimate the ponderings of a Christian parent. Never underestimate the power that comes when a parent pleads with God on behalf of a child. Who knows how many prayers are being answered right now because of the faithful ponderings of a parent ten or twenty years ago? God listens to thoughtful parents. Praying for our children is a noble task. If what we are doing, in this fast-paced society, is taking us away from prayer time for our children, we’re doing too much. There is nothing more special, more precious than that time that a parent spends struggling and pondering with God on behalf of a child. It’s not too late for the child who has brought only tears. Think of Jesus’ parents; the mother who had to watch her son crucified saw her son raised from the dead. Though you may go to the grave wondering if your prayers will ever be answered, don’t stop praying. God blesses faithfulness.” (From the Inspirational Bible, “Parents”)
“You were intended to live in your Father’s house. Any place less than His is insufficient. Any place far from His is dangerous. Only the home built for your heart can protect your heart. And your Father wants you to dwell in Him.” Max Lucado
Parents let you home be filled with the words, commands, and love of Jesus. Teach your kids who God wants them to be. Spend time with them teaching them in the ways of God and modeling for them a Christ-centered lifestyle. Pray for your children daily. Pray that they will know and follow the one and only true God. Let’s start changing the world for Christ, one home at a time.
“Thanks mom and dad for showing me how to live and love like Christ; by showing me the love that He has through the love that you have and gave to me. I love you, and I thank God everyday for the Christian home that you made for me. Thanks for trusting in God and teaching me how to live a life that would be pleasing to Him. You’re the best parents anyone could ever ask for!”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)