Moments in the life of a Pastor

Walking with God

Tag Archives: god


by Leave a comment

37 Living a life of Love – Part 1

1 Peter 3:8-12

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. 10 For the Scriptures say,

“If you want to enjoy life
    and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
    and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
    against those who do evil.

As we started this section on submission Peter began first with a call to submit rightly to governing authorities, second he talked to us about submission and our superiors, and what it looks like to walking out God’s Will in the workplace. Third he talked to us out submission in our most sacred relationship,  reminding us that marriage matters. Lastly he is going to call us to submit rightly in our regular everyday relationships. Many of us struggle with submission and look at it as something just to survive through but the truth is that God’s plan isn’t for you to survive life it’s to thrive in life. God’s plan is for you to prosper and be productive, and there is something inside every one of us that desires and drives us to pursue prosperity. That’s why people play the Power ball, they are willing to gamble at great odds in the unrealistic chance of success.  We all want to live the life, so we chase after the American dream of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.  The problem is not prosperity, its our definition of prosperity and the plan we chose to pursue to find it. Society tells us to seek the path of self, but scripture tells us to seek the path of the Savior. The real question is what are you pursuing and what path are you taking to get there? The world tells us that success and satisfaction is found in the stuff but the Word tells us it’s not about the possessions it’s about people. True treasure is found in relationships not in riches.  This is what Peter is calling us to pursue, the real riches which are our relationships.  But if we want rich relationships, it requires us to respond rightly. What about you what are you pursuing? There are only two things that are eternal souls and scripture. Are you investing in smoke and sand or that which will stand the test of time?


by Leave a comment

34. Marriage – God’s Masterpiece or manmade misery – Part 2

1 Peter series – “Holding onto Hope in a Hostile World”

1 Peter 3:1-7

In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives. 3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do. 7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

Peter starts here by reminding husbands of their call first to:

·      CHERISH – “give honor”

The word “give” means to grant and bestow, it’s in the present tense, meaning that it’s something we are to be continually doing. Many men have the mentality of “I told you I loved you when we got married and if anything changes I will let you know.” A husband is called to honor his wife, to hold her in high regard, to treasure her. Proverbs 31:10 “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” Husbands how are you doing at honoring your wife? Guys, does your wife know that she is more important than anything else in your life? Sometimes I find it helpful to ponder the opposite word in order to get at the true meaning of the word I am trying to understand . Here are some antonyms of honor – to diss, scorn, neglect, disregard, put down, ignore, criticize, condemn and humiliate. Here is the question are you treating her like treasure or trash? If you answer neither then I have only one thing to say stop taking your girl for granted she is a gift. Value her by spending time with her and speaking well of her. Proverbs 31:28: “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” Husbands are you seeking ways to serve and show your spouse that she is special?

·      CONSIDERATION – “Treat your wife with understanding”

This means to be thoughtful of your wife. Get to know her, you know what ticks her off but do you know what makes her tick? Do you know her fears, failures and feelings…and the fun stuff that makes her who she is! Many men treat marriage like a hunting trip, we get all excited about the hunt, we talk about it and put all our energy into planning and pursing but once we pull the trigger and bag the deer it’s over. We take a few pictures or at best have it stuff and mounted on a wall. So it is in our relationship we chase and pursue we expend enormous amounts of energy dating, we staying up late talking and getting to know each other but the moment we get married we stop pursuing and getting to know each other. Your wife should be your school of study, observe her, notice her, pay attention. Some of you know more about guns than your girl, you know more sports stats than your spouse. Let me ask you this question if you were to buy your wife flowers what is her favorite flower and what color? My wife loves yellow roses because yellow is the color of friendship and for her friendship is the most important aspect of our relationship. Ask yourself this question: What does my wife need and how am I doing at meeting those needs? Our call as men is to discover and celebrate who God made our wife to be and then empower and unleash her to live on mission for the glory of God. Are you a student of your spouse? Do you know her love language, and are you learning to speak it?