Jesus’s Joy in Marriage

 Jesus’s Joy in Marriage

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor. (Ephesians 5:25–27)

The reason there is so much misery in marriage is not that husbands and wives seek their own pleasure, but that they do not seek it in the pleasure of their spouses. The biblical mandate to husbands and wives is to seek your own joy in the joy of your spouse.

There is scarcely a more hedonistic passage in the Bible than the one on marriage in Ephesians 5:25–30. Husbands are told to love their wives the way Christ loved the church. 

How did he love the church? Verse 25 says he “gave himself up for her.” But why? Verse 26 says, “that he might sanctify” and cleanse her. But why did he want to do that? Verse 27 answers, “that he might present the church to himself in splendor!” 

Ah! There it is! “For the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). What joy? The joy of marriage to his bride, the church. The joy of presenting the church to himself in blood-bought splendor.

Jesus does not intend to have a dirty and unholy wife. Therefore, he was willing to die to sanctify and cleanse his betrothed so he could present to himself a wife “in splendor.” He gained the desire of his heart by giving himself up in suffering for the good of his bride.

Then Paul applies this to husbands in verses 28–30: “In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.” 

Jesus had said to husbands and wives — and everyone else — “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). Marriage is an extraordinary place of application. It is not merely “as” you love yourself. But you are loving yourself. When you love the person with whom God has made you one flesh, you are loving yourself. That is, your greatest joy is found in seeking the greatest joy of your spouse.

Jesus Don't Let the Light in Me Die by Light House Studio

 

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY OCTOBER 17, 2025.

SUBJECT: DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS!

Memory verse: "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6 vs 37.)

READ: Matthew 7 vs 1 - 2; Luke 6 vs 37 - 38:

Matthew 7:1: Judge not, that ye be not judged.

7:2: For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Luke 6:37: Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven:

6:38: Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

INTIMATION:

To “judge” is to pass sentence, condemn, or punish. It’s to consider and form an idea. To criticize someone for doing wrong. Jesus’ statement, “Judge not,” is not for the right one has to form an opinion or to take notice of, and help correct the wrong behavior of others. Rather it is against the kind of hypocritical, judgmental attitude that tears others down in order to build oneself up. One must always look at others with an attitude of love. The statement is not a blanket statement to overlook wrong behavior of others but a call to be discerning rather than negative. 

If we have all sinned, as the Scripture foretold (Romans 3 vs 23), why then do we have to be judgmental and condemning of others who sin. Whenever we find ourselves feeling justifiably angry about someone’s sin, we should be careful. We need to speak out against sin, but we need do so in a spirit of humility. Often the sins we notice most clearly in others are the ones that have taken root in us. If we look closely at ourselves, we may find that we are committing the same sins in more socially acceptable forms. For example, a person who gossips may be very critical of others who gossip about him or her.

The Bible in John 8 vs 3 - 11, tells us the story of the woman caught in adultery, and the Scribes and Pharisees brought her to Jesus, condemned her and judged her in accordance with the law of Moses, ready to stone her to death. Jesus said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” This is a significant statement about judging others. By saying that only a sinless person could throw the first stone, He highlighted the importance of compassion and forgiveness. When others are caught in sin, are you quick to pass judgement? To do so is to act as though you have never sinned. 

We are always likely to have hidden sin in our lives, sin we don’t even know about because God’s standards are so high and our performance is so imperfect. Therefore, why judge another? It is tempting to judge fellow Christians, evaluating whether or not they are good followers of Christ. But only God knows a person’s heart, and He is the only one with the right to judge. We are to confront those who are sinning, but we must not judge who is a better servant of Christ. 

When you judge someone, you invariably consider yourself better. And that is arrogant. It is God’s role to judge, not ours. Our role is to show forgiveness and compassion. The Bible says, “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14 vs 4.) We are all God’s servants. We are accountable to God only, especially in reference to those things that deal with salvational matters. 

Examine your attitude and actions toward others. Do you build people up or tear them down? When you’re ready to criticize someone, remember God’s law of love and say something good instead. Saying something beneficial to others will cure you of finding fault and increase your ability to obey God’s law of love. We long for fair treatment from others, but do we give it? We hate those who base their judgements on appearance, false evidence, or hearsay, but are we quick to judge others using those standards? 

The apostle Paul said, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself, for you who judge practice the same things.” (Romans 2 vs 1.) This is a confirmation of what Christ said in Luke 6 vs 37 - 38. If we are critical rather compassionate, we will also receive criticism. If we treat others generously, graciously, and compassionately, obviously these qualities will come back to us in full measure, and may sometimes surpass ours. We are to love others, not judge them. The thrust of what Jesus stated in those verses is that we will be dealt with by God in the same manner by which we treat our fellow man. Therefore, when we measure mercy to others, God will in turn measure mercy to us. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of love, that I may love others, and not be critical of them, treating others with compassion and care, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Purpose of Prosperity

 The Purpose of Prosperity

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (Ephesians 4:28)

There are three levels of how to live with material things: (1) you can steal to get them; (2) or you can work to get them; (3) or you can work to get in order to give.

Too many professing Christians live on level two. We glorify work over against stealing and mooching, and feel we have acted virtuously if we have spurned stealing and mooching, and given ourselves to an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. That’s not a bad thing. Work is better than stealing and mooching. But that’s not what the apostle calls us to.

Almost all the forces of our culture urge us to live on level two: work to get. But the Bible pushes us relentlessly to level three: work to get to give. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Why does God bless us with abundance? So we can have enough to live on, and then use the rest for all manner of good works that alleviate spiritual and physical misery — temporal and eternal suffering. Enough for us; abundance for others.

The issue is not how much a person makes. Big industry and big salaries are a fact of our times, and they are not necessarily evil. The evil is in being deceived into thinking that a large salary must be accompanied by a lavish lifestyle.

God has made us to be conduits of his grace. The danger is in thinking the conduit should be lined with gold. It shouldn’t. Copper will do. Copper can carry unbelievable riches to others. And in the very process of that giving we enjoy the greatest blessing (Acts 20:35).

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY OCTOBER 16, 2025.

SUBJECT: CONSECRATION IS BEYOND OUR POWER! 

Memory verse: So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel; ‘Not by might not by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4 vs 6.)

READ: Zechariah 3 vs 1 - 5:

3:1: Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 

3:2: And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked out of the fire?" 

3:3: Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

3:4: Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes." 

3:5: And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.

INTIMATION:

Consecration implies a life of devotion or dedication, usually setting oneself apart for God’s use. Consecration or leading a consecrated life is beyond our power. It takes spiritual empowerment to lead a consecrated life. We are spiritually empowered to overcome the spiritual forces of desecration. 

The passage we read today tells us the source of the conflicts we face in our desire to lead a consecrated life. Joshua, the high priest, did not choose filthiness. It was forced on him by satanic forces in the unseen realm. Satan is always accusing people of their sins before God. But he greatly misunderstands the breadth of God's mercy and forgiveness toward those who believe in Him. 

Many people believe that to survive in this world a person must be tough, strong, unbending, and harsh. But God says, “Not by might not by power, but by My Spirit.” The key words are “by My Spirit.” It is only through God’s Spirit that anything of lasting value is accomplished. As you live for God, determine not to trust in your own strength or abilities. Instead, depend on God and work in the power of His Spirit!

The illustration in the passage reveals that most of the habits that destroy people are remotely controlled by spiritual forces—they are the works of Satan. That is why no matter how hard the victim tries to come out of it by personal physical efforts, he finds himself going deeper into it, against his wish. There has to be a heavenly means of destroying such satanic hold. It took the intervention of the Angel to stop the activities of Satan, and to put a change of raiment on Joshua. You know we release the Angels through prayers (Matthew 26 vs 53.)

As we communicate with God in prayer, He sends Angels down as private emissaries. They remove the filthy garments from us, give us a change of raiment and cause our iniquities to pass from us. No matter how genuine your desire to please God is, or how sincere you are in your longing to live right, you must understand that it is not possible by your power or might; you need divine help. That is why people who lean on personal efforts to live right live frustrated lives. They put themselves under all manner of bondages: they go about with long faces, looking very pious, not greeting anybody on the way, nor shaking hands with anybody, yet they are not free. 

By your might and power you can't live a consecrated life. So, unless you can send your heart ahead of you to heaven through prayer, your physical affords in the conflict with sin is useless. In Matthew 26 vs 41, Jesus said, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Do not trust on your flesh, but rather on the unfailing, strong, and willing Spirit of God. Prayer is very essential because God's strength can shore up our defenses and defeat Satan's power; “For His strength is made perfect in our weakness.” (Second Corinthians 12 vs 9.) 

Look at what happened to Peter before he denied Jesus. When Jesus said, "Simon Peter, you will deny Me three times tonight," Peter said, "Even unto death I will stand by You." And he really meant it. Jesus also knew he meant it. But He meant to tell Peter, "Man, you don't know the things fighting against you. Satan desires to have you and that has nothing to do with whether you are determined or not. There is satanic forces organizing your destruction. Satan has concluded the plan to devastate your destiny and sieve you like wheat, but I have prayed for you" (Luke 22 vs 31 - 34). Jesus recognizes Satan as being behind Peter's fall, and knows the only remedy is standing on the gap in prayers for him, so the Spirit of God would offer the needed help.

That is why God gave us the weapon of prayer, to pull down all strongholds of the enemy that stand against our walk in righteousness. When we ask in prayer for God's mercy, He removes our filthy garments (our clothing of sin) and provides us with His goodness; new, clean, rich robes (the righteousness and holiness of God (Second Corinthians 5 vs 21; Ephesians 4 vs 24; Revelation 19 vs 8), making us worthy to draw near to Him. All we need to do is repent and ask God for forgiveness in prayer. My prayer is that the Spirit of the living God will always lead you in your journey of life, in Jesus’ Name. 

Prayer: Abba Father, Your Word says, “By strength shall no man prevail.” And without You I can do nothing. Endue me with the spirit of utmost dependence on You, even in my quest to lead a consecrated life in You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Fear and Hope in God’s Jealousy

 Fear and Hope in God’s Jealousy

“The Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:14)

God is infinitely jealous for the honor of his name, and responds with terrible wrath against those whose hearts should belong to him but go after other things, like a spouse running after another lover. 

For example, in Ezekiel 16:38–40 he says to faithless Israel,

“I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy. And I will give you into their hands, and they shall throw down your vaulted chamber. . . . They shall strip you of your clothes and take your beautiful jewels and leave you naked and bare. They shall bring up a crowd against you, and they shall stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords.”

I urge you to listen to this warning. The jealousy of God for your undivided love and devotion will always have the last say. Whatever lures your affections away from God with deceptive attraction will come back to strip you bare and cut you in pieces. 

It is a horrifying thing to use your God-given life to commit adultery against the Almighty.

But for those of you who have been truly united to Christ and who keep your vows to forsake all others and cleave only to him and live for his honor — for you the jealousy of God is a great comfort and a great hope. 

Since God is infinitely jealous for the honor of his name, anything and anybody who threatens the good of his faithful wife will be opposed with divine omnipotence. That’s good news for the faithful wife — the faithful people of God.

God’s jealousy is a great threat to those who play the harlot and sell their heart to the world and make a cuckold out of God (James 4:3–4). But his jealousy is a great comfort to those who keep their covenant vows and become strangers and exiles in the world.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 15, 2025.

SUBJECT: OUR SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN CHRIST! 

Memory verse: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." (Ephesians 1 vs 3.)

READ: Ephesians 2 vs 4 - 7:

2:4: But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

2:5: even when we were dead in trespasses, made us live together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

2:6: and raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

2:7: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

INTIMATION:

The metaphor “in Christ” refers to a spiritual relationship one has with Christ as a result of what He has done for us. In this relationship with Christ, all the blessings that relate to one’s salvation are for those who are in Christ. All that God did in order to reconcile man to Himself through the cross is granted to those who are in Christ. We are baptized into Christ (Romans 6 vs 3 and Galatians 3 vs 26 - 27). Therefore, in order to come into contact with all spiritual blessings that originate from the heavenly realm, one must act on his faith by obedience to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. 

He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ (Ephesians 1 vs 3). It means that in Christ we have all the benefits of knowing God—being chosen for salvation, being adopted as His children, forgiveness of sins, insight, the gifts of the Spirit, power to do God’s will, the hope of living forever with Christ. Because we have an intimate relationship with Christ, we can enjoy these blessings now. The heavenly places means that these blessings are eternal, not temporal. The blessings come from Christ’s spiritual realm, not the earthly realm. 

We are blessed. We are rich in Him. We have His fullness. We are sufficient in His sufficiency. All that He is, we have. We are what He says we are. And the Father has told us that we are in the Beloved. The grace (unmerited favor) gives us the gifts of His love life, wisdom, His very being, and substance. We are the branch of the vine; we are partakers of the Divine Nature. His fullness here means His ability, His love, His righteousness, His utter completeness, and we have received them all. All the gifts and favors are now piled on us one after another, and all by His grace.

The responsibility of the believers is to know God better. How do you get to know someone? By reading biographical information or historical data about him? That will help you know a lot about that person, but it won’t enable you to actually know the person. If you want to get to know someone, you have to spend time with that person; there is no shortcut. 

The same holds true with God. Reading the Bible, great works of theology, and devotional materials are wonderful, but there is no substitute for knowing God personally. Do you really know Christ, or do you just know about Him? The difference is spending time with Him. Study Jesus’ life in the Gospels to see what He was like on earth more than two thousand years ago, and get to know Him in prayer now. Personal knowledge of Christ will change your life.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You so much for the spiritual blessings bestowed on us in Christ. Give me the grace to achieve my utmost heart desire of having an intimate relationship, and constant fellowship with You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!