Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
I have a better motive! It puts our marriage in a whole different perspective when I think of it this way. I need to choose to serve God regardless of M's behavior. The real issue isn't how M deserves to be treated, but how Jesus deserves to be treated. It's so much easier said than done though. He walks in the room and I automatically find things to pick at. *groan*
Here is a different version of Matthew 25:35-40 that I read the other day.
The Husband Paraphrase
I was hungry for breakfast, dinner,
and sometimes even lunch, snacks, a
kind word, a warm hug, to talk to you, to be loved by you...
...you gave me something to eat.
I was thirsty to feel accepted by you,
to take the leadership role in our
home, to be admired by you, to be respected by you.
I mowed the lawn and needed refreshing and...
...you gave me something to drink.
I was a stranger; my mood was bad.
I had been unreasonable.
I had been mean, thoughless, forgetful, unhelpful, self-centered...
...you invited me in.
I was naked, you did all my wash
even when I dropped it on the floor.
You sewed on my missing buttons.
You let me bare my soul to you.
You ironed my wrinkled shirts.
You saw the real me that others never see--
with all my quirks and uncovered ugliness, and you never
exposed me before our children, family, or friends...
...you clothed me.
I was sick--you know my colds are worse than anyone else's.
Sometimes I said things to you I didn't mean. I got depressed and...
...you cared for me.
I was in prison: my job got to me some days and I withdrew from you.
When I was lonely you were there for me.
You prayed for me.
When I was consumed with a problem,
when I was unforgiving, when I didn't deserve
anything because of the way I've treated you ans I was so ashamed...
...you came to me.
Jesus would say to you, "When you did these things for your
husband, you did them for Me."
The Husband Paraphrase
I was hungry for breakfast, dinner,
and sometimes even lunch, snacks, a
kind word, a warm hug, to talk to you, to be loved by you...
...you gave me something to eat.
I was thirsty to feel accepted by you,
to take the leadership role in our
home, to be admired by you, to be respected by you.
I mowed the lawn and needed refreshing and...
...you gave me something to drink.
I was a stranger; my mood was bad.
I had been unreasonable.
I had been mean, thoughless, forgetful, unhelpful, self-centered...
...you invited me in.
I was naked, you did all my wash
even when I dropped it on the floor.
You sewed on my missing buttons.
You let me bare my soul to you.
You ironed my wrinkled shirts.
You saw the real me that others never see--
with all my quirks and uncovered ugliness, and you never
exposed me before our children, family, or friends...
...you clothed me.
I was sick--you know my colds are worse than anyone else's.
Sometimes I said things to you I didn't mean. I got depressed and...
...you cared for me.
I was in prison: my job got to me some days and I withdrew from you.
When I was lonely you were there for me.
You prayed for me.
When I was consumed with a problem,
when I was unforgiving, when I didn't deserve
anything because of the way I've treated you ans I was so ashamed...
...you came to me.
Jesus would say to you, "When you did these things for your
husband, you did them for Me."
Instead of these things getting easier it seems they are getting harder! I know it is Satan but I do just want to get up and get out sometimes still. *sigh* We are so far apart. We have nothing in common. I didn't love him when we got married. He still lies. If this works God will get all the glory because I can't do it myself.
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