The Devotional

Papa J's rules for Livin #164

I have heard it said that a “haughty” person is riding a high horse whose name is “princely” and that the “humble” person rides a pony whose name is “modesty”! Which one is in your stable?

Some years ago we purchased a new car, it had less than fifty miles on it when I went down Interstate 95 and over the Gold Star Bridge that crosses the Thames River in Connecticut. I took the first exit off for New London since I was working for Electric Boat that occupied a building at Shaw's Cove. As I proceeded down the exit ramp I saw two cars piled up on the guard rails and two men talking. I attempted to slow down, the brakes grabbed and the car seemed to speed up as I lost control of my direction. Straight for the two cars and men I headed, I shouted; “LORD, we just bought this car, there is barely any mileage on it! Well... okay LORD, this is not my will, but it must be yours!” I braced for the impact. Suddenly the car made a hard left lurch and up over the snow plowed banking I went. Once again, I had control of the car. I waved to the two men as I drove back onto the icy pavement, when I stopped they explained that help was on the way so I drove away praising the LORD. Our God is a very present help in times of need.

1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 7:3-4 These passages are like walking through a mine field, I can see why we leave sections of the bible alone. Affection is one of those words that you have to be careful with. What may be affection to one, could be something of lessor or greater value to another. In other words, what I determine to be affection may be a turn off to another if the pendulum of affection is swung in any direction other than what is deserved for the moment.

As a husband or a wife we are as the Word of God reveals, made one. This means more than just an intimate wellness. It means that if one hurts mentally, physically or spiritually then the other should be able to provide comfort. In the early stages of marriage, affection is physical and intimate and sort of takes up the slack of missing some of the mental and spiritual concerns of one another. But as the marriage matures we should be tuned in and turned on to one another, spiritually and mentally, one hundred percent.

There is no such thing as a 50/50 relationship in a marriage, if I do not seek to give all to my wife, then I cannot expect to receive all from her. This is what 1 Corinthians 7:4 is talking about. Our lives belong to the LORD, He is One. Our bodies belong to our spouse, we are one. If we cannot be one in our earthly vessels as married ones. How could we ever expect that our lives are fully given to the LORD? If I am selfish in my relationship with my wife or husband, how can I say that I am fully devoted to God, that just does not work.