Thursday, April 16, 2009

Reminder For Men: Love & Lead Your Wives

I meet with a group of men for accountability and Bible study on Wednesday mornings ever week. Yesterday morning, Mike brought up a passage of Scripture that really kicked me in the backside, and continued to do so all day. It effected me so much that I had no other choice but to respond in repentance to God, to my wife, and to the men of my church. I want to share with you this verse in hopes that it will kick you in the backside as well.

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
-1 Peter 3:7 (ESV)


Did you notice the last sentence? The whole of our lives will be effected and will suffer, if we do not lead our wives according to Scripture and if we do not love our wives as Christ loves the church. As a pastor, this means that I am praying in vain, if I am not leading and loving my wife correctly. This means that my church suffers due to my lack of fellowship with my wife and God. Imagine the implications here....Men we are in real trouble!

I would commend you all (me included) to grab your Bible and meditate and memorize this verse. Allow it to kick your butt, and respond in obedience...confess your sin to your wife and God. We must stop being cowards, passive, and/or control freaks, and start loving and honoring our wives. Why? The reason is simple, we as believers are here to bring glory to God, and to know Him. If we do not obey, we are not living in fellowship with Him, nor are we living for His glory. In other words, we are living in sin. Think about it...Repent!

2 comments:

Liana said...

I respect men who take a stand and be the spiritual leader of their family like God intended them to be. There are very few who do that today. It is very sad. It is so hard for the moms out there who are having to take this position on their own.

Scott Packett said...

Liana,

Most women would love for their husbands to be the spiritual leader of their families. You are absolutely correct in your assessment of there being a lack of this leadership in the home, which makes it difficult for the wives and the children. It's almost as though us men have let women down so much in this area that when we try to take the lead we meet resistance.

My prayer is that both husbands and wives stop fighting for control and surrender to the control of God. The Christian life is about living for His glory not our own. I pray that Allyssa and Ayden will see my desire to lead them, and will be encouraged by that example.