Mark 1:35

In my teaching time this week we looked at a few passages in Genesis. As we went through the scripture and discussed it, one of the verses and one of the questions jumped out at me and seem to cut right through to my heart.

And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27

God created us in His own image. He formed us in the likeness of Him. We are His creation. He could have created us from dust. But He chose to make us in His image and likeness. Powerful!

Thinking along those lines, God created my wife in His image. She is His creation. He could have formed her out of dust, but He chose to make her in His likeness. Wow!

So If your spouse was created in God's image, how should that effect the way you treat her/him?

As I stood there teaching, I started mentally recounting past conversations, past judgements, past hurts that I have caused...

Knowing she was made in God's image, I should treat her with the highest respect. With honor. With dignity. There are so many things that I would never do or say TO God, but casually do or say to my wife (who was made in His image).

Father, forgive me for going astray and taking my wife and marriage for granted. Help me to see her in Your image. Lord please give me eyes to see her the way You do. Amen.

What could possibly go wrong in a marriage to make someone go from love to hate? How could someone’s heart change so drastically?


As David and Michal begin their marriage, Michal “loved him.”

When Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him. 1 Sam 18:28

After a rocky relationship and at one of the highest points in David’s life, Michal “despised him in her heart.”

Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. 2 Sam 6:16

No one goes into a marriage thinking it will end this way.

But time and time again, it goes from good to bad to worse and then divorce.

Why?

What can be done to keep us from turning love into hate?

Father I pray for my marriage. I realize that it is only through the love You have shown us that we are able to love each other. Help us to love each other in spite of our faults, our sinful natures and our selfishness. In Jesus name, Amen.

I'm a little perplexed as I read Genesis 2 & 3. In 2:25 is says, "The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame." But then Adam doesn't show back up again until 3:6.

So the question today men is this, "where was Adam?" What was so important to him that he allowed his wife to become entangled with the serpent? Why wasn't he standing up for his wife and giving her the encouragement and support she needed to endure this trial?

We, as men, have become passive and allow so many things to overtake our families. Much is preventable but we do not have the courage and nobility to stand up for what is right. By the same token, we do not have the courage and nobility to say out loud what is wrong. Passivity has taken over and we need to repent.

Now...I write the facts. But inside I am a deep offender of this information. My lack of courage has caused my marriage to stop progressing at times. It stops by relationship with Christ from progressing.

It also gives satan a foothold where he would not otherwise have the ability to stand. The power of Christ is enough to breakdown that foothold and I call upon the name of Jesus to provide power where I am weak.

Father I love you today and thank you for the example set by Christ. He was never passive and never willing to settle for anything less than God's best for humanity. Amen.

Hebrews 12:29 says, "Our God is a consuming fire."

As I looked over this verse and prayed, I asked myself a couple of questions. First, what does this mean? Is this a warning of God's judgement? Does he cleanse us through trials of fire? I don't really get the fire thing, especially a consuming fire!

Our God as a consuming fire is a good thing. It is a great thing! God wants to purify us by burning away the sin in our life. He wants us to run towards Him and leave behind the burned and charred remains of our life in sin. To fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Are you ready to burn the bridges that connect you to your sin? To your past? To your shame? Let it go and prepare to be swept up in the Consuming Fire!

Jesus, you are a Consuming Fire and I stand in awe of the intensity of your love towards us. Ignite my fire to burn hotter so that everything that is not of you will be burned away. Amen.