MEMORY VERSE: But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Luke 6:35
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Colossians 1-2
READ: Luke 6:31-35
As a married woman, it is easy to submit to a man who celebrates you. It is easy to submit to a man who puts you first. In other words, it is easy to submit (to one’s husband) when one's needs are being met and one is happy. As a brother, it is easy to love a woman who respects you. Who wouldn’t love a woman who is an epitome of a virtuous woman (Proverb 31)? Who wouldn’t love a woman like Sarah, the Great Shunamite woman, Rebekah, or Abigail? Who wouldn’t love a young pious sister like Mary?
It is easy to obey God’s commandment (especially when it relates to marriage and relationship ) when one feels loved and appreciated. As a sister, it is easy to submit to a man who loves and respects you. Also as a brother, it is easy to love a woman who is submissive and humble. According to Luke 6:31-35, nothing differentiates you from a pagan if you treat people as they treat you. You, my brother or sister, have not done anything spectacular when you love a woman who submits to you or submit to a man who loves you. Even pagans and atheist do that. A woman who has never walked through the doors of a church before in her life will submit to her husband (without him asking for it) if he loves and respects her. Also an atheist man will love his wife if she is submissive and humble.
Luke 6:35 says, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Christ demonstrated how to be a true child of God by dying for us while we were yet sinner. Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” While we were yet hopeless and worthless sinners, Christ died for us. He demonstrated how to be a godly husband by dying for us, while we were yet to submit to Him. This is Christ's expectation of every man. Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” The best time to show one’s love to his wife is not when she is humble and submissive. It is when she is most obnoxious. The best time to submit to one’s husband is not when he provides money. It is when you are most offended by something he said or did. This is how the children of the Most High should behave. However, it is not something anyone can do by will power. The same thing applies to loving people who are either unlovable or obnoxious or unrepentant. Loving such people is only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 says, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” It is the Holy Spirit that gives one the ability to love the unlovable i.e. become the sons and daughters of God.
PRAYER: Father, please help me to love those who are unlovable.
twitter@BroOluwatoki
Bro Samuel | Reaching the world
