Monday prayer & verses (13 07 2009)

Thought for the day

Ole and Lena lived on a lake in Northern Minnesota. It was near the end of winter and spring was just beginning.

Ole asked Lena if she would walk across the frozen lake to the general store to pick him up some snacks. She asked for some money, but he told her to put it on their tab. So she walked across, got the snacks and walked back.

Then she asked Ole why he didn't send her with any money.

He said, "I vasn't goin' to send a dollar ven I vasn't sure how tick de ice vas."

I think it's safe to say that Ole is a fellow who doesn't highly value his wife! Quite a contrast with the high standard that men have been given in scripture: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her..." (Eph. 5:25)

We are to love and value our wives as much as Christ loved the church, which means being willing to make any sacrifice, even to the point of death! Unfortunately, even when we hold our wives in high regard, we sometimes do a poor job of letting them know that, both in the words that we speak and the way that we act toward them. Husbands, I encourage you to take a moment today to let your wives know just how much they mean to you.

Verses

Romans 8:28

We know that God works all things out for good for those who love God, who are called according to His plan.

Exodus 23:25

You shall serve the LORD your God, and I will bless your bread and your water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of you.

John 13:35

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

1 Thessalonians 1:2

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,

Joshua 1:8

This book of the Law must never depart from your mouth; you must meditate on it day and night, so that you may keep living in accord with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful, and then you will prosper.

Prayer

Father, we learn from Paul’s experience that when Your hand is against the evil perpetrator, there are consequences. When you temporarily blinded the sorcerer so that he could not see the light of the sun he came to rely not on his own guidance but was at the mercy of those who would lead him by the hand, perhaps even Paul. You used this harsh experience to bring the government official to faith, for he was amazed at the teaching You brought about. The teaching went beyond just theory but was revealed illustratively. Help us not to fear our enemies, but to boldly speak the truth to them and then commit them to You for judgment. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.