This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. – Ephesians 5:22
I’ve been mentoring you in how to reflect God’s glory in your marriage on a day-to-day basis. How did it go on the last assignment . . . did you post what you discovered? It’s not too late. You can post your response now, mentee.
I want to take a time out and speak to those who are single who may be reading this and wondering, “How do I apply what you are teaching?” I’m so glad you asked. You can apply what I’ve been illustrating here in any relationship. All you need to do is pick a relationship that God established (e.g, spiritual parents, mother, father, sister, just to name a few) and live out what I’ve been teaching. I’d love to hear about it. So, come on back to the blog and post what you discover. You are being mentored, right?
Now back to the couples, God isn’t finished with your marriage yet. Amen?! We wrap up this segment of mentoring with another exercise. Truly, you have read enough scriptures on how to be a Godly husband or wife. It’s time to DO something about it. Your ministry will be the better because of it, and if the truth be told, deeper ministry awaits you!
Here is the perfect exercise for you:
Take a look at one thing Christ’s love does for you (e.g., forgives, accepts you). Do you have it in mind? Great! Now, look to how you relate in your marriage and see if you demonstrate this characteristic with your spouse. For example, if forgiveness comes up for you, when is the last time you really forgave your spouse for something s/he did or did not do?
I want to expand on this exercise. I shared the 12 attributes of glorious living with you a while back. I’m going to pull from some of those attributes to see if your marriage contains the attributes of Jesus’ glory.
Okay, here we go:
Do you humbly serve your spouse?
When is the last time you praised or prayed for your spouse?
Are you willing to follow your spouse’s leadership without question because you respect and honor them?
Are you willing to go against your “momma’s” or “daddy’s” marriage traditions and follow God’s way? This is also a part of leaving and cleaving.
Do you act like and respond to your spouse based on a deep knowing of who they are (e.g., an intimate revelation of who/what God says about your spouse)?
When is the last time your opinions or the opinions of man swayed how you relate to your spouse?
Your spouse may not be the most popular in or out of the body of Christ, how does this affect your love walk towards him or her?
Do you only speak what Father God says to your spouse?
What does generously meeting the needs of your spouse look like?
So, come on back to the blog and post what you discover. You are being mentored, right?
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. – Ephesians 5:22
We ended part I yesterday by illustrating that we should be able to visibly see who and what Christ is to us in our relationship with Him and, in turn, be and do that for our spouse unconditionally based solely on the fact that we love them.
Let’s see how this might play out in the day to day via the soul diagram. Do you remember the soul diagram? Based on that diagram: Is your spouse married to your soul or your spirit? The answer is found in how you interact with them. If your entire relationship is based on what you want, feel, need, and think, then your spouse is married to “the soulish you.” If your relationship and interactions are based on what God wants from, feels and thinks about your spouse, then you are married to your spouse’s spirit man. Take inventory in your marriage this week, based on your interactions, and see which part of your entity is showing up in your marriage on a regular basis.
I’d love to hear about it. So, come on back to the blog and post what you discover. You are being mentored, right?
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. – Ephesians 5:22
Our primary aim and focus as ministers of the gospel and individual members of the body is to bring glory to God in every area of our lives, but especially our marriage. Our love for our spouse should equate to the way Christ loves the church.
Just a gentle reminder we define God’s glory as: His nature, power, and character.
So if God is telling me to bring Him glory in my marriage, what is He really saying? He is saying the interactions in my marriage should reflect His character (love, goodness, gentleness, kindness), nature (spiritual being), and power (healing, deliverance, wellness, peace, soundness).
My love for my husband radiates with God’s glory when I usher my husband into healing, deliverance, wellness, as well as practical demonstrations of love found in kind acts, exhibiting goodness towards him, blessing Him with things I know He likes/needs, affirming His identity in Christ, providing all I can so he can be all God’s called Him to be. Isn’t this what God does for us . . . simply and elaborately because He loves us and we are His wife?!
