Man In CrisisShembull

Don't Protect (yourself) - Sacrifice (yourself)

 

I want to invite you to live now. The way we live is to suffer, bleed, and die - like Jesus. I’m not speaking of your physical well being here but rather making a spiritual analogy. You may be called to suffer physically, maybe even die, for your wife. But most of us aren’t.

We are called to sacrifice in many ways for the well being of our wives. Jesus set the ultimate example of this. Below is a list of things Jesus had to endure and what it might look like with you and your wife. It is just a partial list of the things people did to Jesus but enough to give you the picture. 

Jesus: Challenged (tempted) to prove he was God’s son. (Matthew 4:1-10)

You: Your wife may challenge you to prove you’ve changed or your motives are pure, etc. 

Jesus: Asked to leave this area. (Matthew 8:34)

You: Your wife may ask you to leave, she doesn’t want to see you anymore.

Jesus: Accused of eating with publicans and sinners. (Matthew 9:11)

You: Your wife may accuse you of having bad friends or an affair. 

Jesus: Laughed to scorn by some who doubted his miracle. (Matthew 9:24)

You: Your wife may laugh out loud at your claims or your attempts to serve her. 

Jesus: Challenged to show a sign. (Matthew 12:38)

You: Your wife will often challenge you to prove you have changed or give her a good reason to stay.

Jesus: Challenged on the question of divorce. (Matthew 19:3)

You: Your wife may be in the place where she can justify divorce and not want to hear what you say about it. 

Jesus: His authority challenged. (Matthew 21:23) 

You: Your wife will challenge your authority. 

Jesus: Accused of falsely claiming to be a prophet. (Matthew 26:60-61)

You: Your wife may accuse you of falsely claiming to be a good man or a Christian.

Jesus: Ridiculed because of exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. (Luke 16:14)

You: Your wife will not hear any correction from you. My advice is not to give it. Leave that to the Holy Spirit.

Jesus: Challenged on being the bread of life. (John 6:41-42)

You: Your wife might say you haven’t been a good provider of what the family needs. 

List of challenges/accusations credit: http://randal.fastmail.com.user.fm/wisebible/#AccusationsAgainstJesus

Why did I drag you through this long list of challenges to and accusations against Jesus? Because they are similar to what your wife will do if she were as angry and fed up as mine was.

Being prepared to handle them is necessary. The way we develop is to study what Jesus did in every circumstance and as much as is possible - imitate Him! 

Challenge: Read and Meditate on the passages above over and over.