14 “I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”
2 Samuel 7: 14-16 NIV
6min read
Sometimes I have to remind myself that firstly, my husband is a son of God, adopted as a child into the family of the Father. It is something I have to meditate on in times of frustration and doubt. When things in my marriage are on edge, and in moments where bickering is heightened, and acts of love are scarce. During these moments self-righteousness easily creeps in. The finger pointing and the blame games are prominent. And often I feel the gentle convictions of the Holy Spirit guiding me back to what is right in the eyes of the Father, instead of what is right in my own eyes.
23 “Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139: 23-24 NIV
Throughout scripture we see God calling us higher, breathing words of life into us. He calls us blameless, He calls us chosen, He calls us worthy, He tells us we are loved. But in moments of frustration in my marriage, acts of entitlement come creeping in. The words ‘this is not fair’ comes belting out of my mouth. And I want to be validated for my feelings of frustration. But instead, God asks me to see my husband like He does- blameless, chosen, worthy, loved. Why can’t I see these things in him during these moments of frustration? I become so focused on myself that I don’t see him through God’s eyes. I see him through my own eyes, my own standard, my own worldly view. I allow the negativity to consume my mind instead of focusing on allowing God’s hand to move in our marriage.
In the Old Testament there are stories over and over again that speak to my heart during these times of difficulty. In Exodus, God invites the Israelite people to make atonement for their sins by bringing sacrifices to the altar of God. Sacrifices, which are a representations of our own bodies being thrown onto the altar. And when I step back and allow God to rebuke, correct and convict me, He reminds me that it is myself that I need to thrown onto the altar. He is inviting me to blame myself and see areas in my life that sin needs to be pruned out of me. In these moments I understand my need for God, because of the sin that easily entangles me.
The most growth I have seen in my life, is when I have allowed God to open my eyes to the sin that consumes my thoughts and actions. He does not ask me to point the finger and blame those around me. He is inviting me to point the finger back at myself and asks me to check my own heart. He desires for me to feel the hurt and the pain, and choose to be an overcomer in the strength He has given me through our LORD Jesus Christ.
And in Exodus 20, we are blessed with ‘The Ten Commandments.’ And following from these laws, God gives instruction to Moses to make an altar of earth. He then gives boundaries around its construction, and advises that the altar of the LORD is not to be manipulate by the hands of man. It needs to come form the earth, soil or natural uncut stones. Is the altar a representation of Jesus Himself? Where He asks us to sacrifice to Him, on His altar.
The altar is a place we can come to worship, it is a place where we recognise our sins and ask for forgiveness, where our spiritual living bodies are thrown, for the atonement to be made. God then prunes the sin out of us, and in the Bible we see it as a representation of dying to ourselves by giving burnt offerings (our sin) to the LORD. He consumes it, it is a fragrant aroma to Him. What is more pleasing to the LORD, than those moments we recognise our own sin. And in hating it, and having a desire to have it pruned out of us, we place it onto the altar to be burnt up, causing us to be made new through the blood of Jesus.
24 “‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.’”
Exodus 20: 24-26 NIV
Just like the altar of earth, God does not need anything from man, to add or subtract from Him. He is perfect in all His ways. We need to sacrifice our selfish desires to be more like Jesus, and honour His name through our actions. Let the blood of Jesus wash over us, making us perfect not because we are perfect, but because He is perfect, the one who lives in us, our LORD Jesus Christ.
And as we are a representation of the work Jesus has done in us, let His light shine through, to all those who surround us.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5: 14-16 NIV
And ask yourself, would you date this version of yourself? I encourage you, like I encourage myself. Point the finger back at yourself, throw your body on the altar of the LORD to be sacrificed, taking up your cross daily. And honour His name through the good works He does through you. Just like my husband, who is God’s son, so am I, a daughter of the LORD. Let God discipline you through His love for you. Let Him rebuke, correct and convict you, so you can be a better version of yourself. We are God’s children, perfectly and wonderfully made through the breath of life from God the Father.
Nadia x
All for His Glory.