Learning How to Apologize

"When Dr. Jennifer Thomas and I wrote our book, The Five Languages of Apology, we discovered that people apologize in different ways. What one person considers an apology is not what another person is looking for. He says, "I'm sorry," while she wants to hear him say, "I was wrong." Or, she says, "What can I do to make things right?" And, he is saying, "For a start you can tell me what you are going to do to make sure this does not happen again tomorrow." None of us are experts on apologizing, but the good news is that we can learn."

Original Post: Love Language Minute - Gary Chapman

The Purpose of Marriage

"The purpose of Christian marriage is to paint a biblical picture of the marriage supper of the Lamb."

CJ Mahaney

Marriage is to contribute evangelically. Our marriage is a physical picture of the bond between Christ and his Church. Why do so many Christian marriages end up in divorce? Because many Christians don't view marriage through biblical lenses. Marriage is not about feelings. It isn't about a set of our needs getting met (although that is essential to a good marriage). Instead, marriage is about a husband and a wife, painting a picture for all the world to see, about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Wives are called to submit to their husbands as Christ submitted to his Father. Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church (and gave up His life for her). The biblical picture of marriage, will always paint a picture of Christ. When the world looks at a "working" Christian marriage, they should see all the attributes of Christ withing the scope of that marriage. Love, grace, patience, long-suffering, forgiveness, humility, selflessness....These are all ways in which Christ loved the church and submitted himself to the Father. And these are the attributes Christians should strive for in their marriage.

What type of example are you portraying with your marriage? What does your marraige say about Christ?

He Has Granted us All Things

1 Peter 1:3-11

3His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Have you ever stopped to think about what you have gained in Christ. Apart from the new birth and salvation from hell and the ability to cherish and worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for all eternity, what have you gained? The verses above put into perspective just what we've gained and what we should be fighting for on earth. The scripture tells us that, "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness." What more do we need than that? We have the divine power of Christ given to us.

No more excuses. No more justification for our failures and shortcomings. We have been granted the power of Christ, if we are willing to submit to Christ as Lord. When we fail, we fail not because we knew no better. We fail because of pride and idolatry. We fail because we have put self above Christ.

Lord, save me from myself. I am a sinner. God is Holy, and through Christ I am made Holy. Help me to stand firm in the foundation of my holiness, namely, Jesus Christ.


For His Glory,

Jason

I asked the Lord for patience

I asked the Lord for patience
So, he put me to the test

Then I failed by my own weakness
Because there was something I did forget

You see the patience that I’m seeking
Cannot be found in me

I am a helpless sinner
In need of his grace eternally

But the patience that I’m longing for
Was purchased on the cross

Provided to me through Jesus Christ
Because of everything he lost

His death has brought me life
His life has set me free

This freedom has broken my chains of sin
This freedom has set me free

In Christ I am made Holy
In Christ I am made strong

In Christ I’ll find my patience
That’s where my heart belongs


For His Glory,

Jason

Why Do the Children Bless Her?

Proverbs 31:28 (English Standard Version)

28Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

This proverb speaks plainly to the mother who is in a very happy place. Oh, the joy the mother must feel to have her children rise up and bless her.

But there is something distinct about why her children bless her that we need to understand and make note of in this passage. The children rise up and bless their mom, because they are following the example of their father. For as the passage goes on to say, "her husband [also] praises her".

Husbands. Praise Your wife. Build her up. Don't let a single day go by without esteeming your bride for being the wonderful woman she is. Shower her day with complements and admiration, like the spring rain waters a garden. Give your bride no reason to doubt how you feel about her. Kill her insecurities with the security of your praises. Set the example for your children of how to honor their mothers, so in turn your sons will also honor their wives and your daughters will know how their husband should honor them.

For His Glory,

Jason

Biblical Headship:

Ephesians 5:25-27 (English Standard Version)

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for
her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water
with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without
blemish.

Is the man that I’m choosing to be, getting in the way of my wife’s ability to know and experience the greatness and glory of God?

That’s an alarming thought if you really think about it. Each angry word, each annoyed gaze, each selfish deed, each self-centered action or motive could be hindering my wife’s ability to know God and experience His greatness and His love.

Paul commands husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Christ laid down his life for the church. But for what purpose? He laid down his life, that he might sanctify the church. That he might cleanse the church by the washing of water with the word. He did this so that he might present the church to God in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or blemish.

So, husband, here is the real question…are you presenting a sanctified bride to God? Are you loving your wife in such a way that she will with pleasure seek to be sanctified by his blood and washed by his word? If the answer is no, take heed, because you are not only failing in your responsibility to be a good husband for your wife, but you are failing in the commandment from God to love your wife.

For His Glory,

jason