Thursday, October 9, 2008

Marriage Lessons


Learning to love the law of God is so vital! God’s law shows His character, expectations and His love for us. God’s law has the power to convert the sinner, change lives, judge; the list goes on and on. So often the law is treated with contempt and disdain because our flesh does not like to submit. But, I maintain that if you begin to look at God’s law in a different way your understanding could provide a renewed love.

In Ephesians 5 we learn about the relationship of a husband and a wife, which is compared to the relationship of Christ and the church. So, let us dig a little deeper into that concept.

If you have a husband that is mean, oppressive or harsh then you have a wife that submits simply to avoid conflict. She does not consult him out of respect but out of fear. She does not joyfully serve him or follow him; she simply exists with him because she has to.

Then, there is the wife in a marriage with a man that is understanding, caring, respectable and worthy of leadership; he is decisive but considerate. In this situation the wife consults her husband out of genuine respect and honor. She will submit to him because he has proven to have proper motives and because she truly loves him and wants to be pleasing.

You see if you begin to know Jesus you will know that he is the second husband to the church. When you understand that Christ is righteous and worthy of all glory then you will begin to submit out of love and honor. To submit to and love God’s law is to know and love your creator. It is submission of honor and understanding not of oppression.

To take that one step further the comparison is of marriage. Christ is treated like an affair or a booty call so often these days. Many call themselves followers of Christ but only call on Him when they need something. They, like someone in and affair, only call on Him when it is convenient for them or when they need a fix. Then their everyday life is continued until the next time.

It is a commitment to Jesus Christ and His law!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Patience - Tonight's Youth Lesson

Patience is something that is learned over time. You do not just wake up one day a patient and understanding person. So, how do you learn patience?

Trials teach you patience; as you persevere through the lessons that God is teaching you you begin to learn patience. You begin to understand that God is in control of every situation and patience comes with that knowledge.

As you study and grow in your knowledge of God you understand His character. If you understand God’s character you know that all things come in His timing. Patience comes with he understanding of God’s character. History, displayed in the Bible over and over again,shows God’s sovereignty.

If you want patience you spend the time and effort to get to know and love the one in control, spend time in prayer and studying the scripture. If you lack patience it is because you lack trust in the sovereignty of God and His ability to carry things out in His timing.

So, the question is not really how do I get patience. The question is are you ready to press on into the things of God? Are you ready to move forward, leave the old behind, and get to know the one that rules the universe? Are you ready to make the hard choices and stand up for truth when no one else will? This is how you will get patience and all of the other fruits of the spirit.