All of us are a product of our upbringing. The environment in which we grew determines how we view the world. We all need to be loved and from childhood we have had people around us who were responsible for our growing up, going to school, providing care, shelter, clothing, food and security. The people I am talking about here could be ones father and mother, relatives, foster fathers and mothers, children home's parents or even in the case of street families, the people who provide all or some of the things I have mentioned above. Therfore, the way one grew up influences not only how one views the word but also how one relates to those he/she interacts with in later stages of life.
Some of us are considered to be loud mouthed, unappreciative, pompous, proud, withdrawn, abrasive, rude, uncompromising, unloving, disorganised and many other worldly tag categorizations available in the vocabulary that our society has gathered over the years. But is it fair to jugde those others and place tags on them? Should we demand for apprecaition from those we help? Should we do things expecting to be recognized? Should we withhold further help from somebody because s/he did not appreciate or did not say thank you? The bible has numerous examples of men and women who served other without expecting anything back. My favourite example is the Apostle of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles who was also considered to be a bad man even by some people living now that He destroyed Religion-Paul. Paul wrote to the Colosians reminding them of the solemn duty of evrey Christian- to love no matter what the distance may be. He wrote to some who had not even met him in person but the love of Jesus Christ welling in him overflowed to them.
2 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and[a] of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
In the foregoing verses, Paul talks of that distance between him and the people he had mistered to. What was holding them together was not their own love but the love that was emanating from God through Jesus Christ. I have heard people on TV and Radio shows who discuss about various topics like the one on K24. It should be remembered most of what people say are but opinions rehearsed before they go on air and they speak not from their experience but from what they have read from books.
Distance relationships are very delicate and challenging. What is needed is God. When alone, one is always tempted to do what he/she wants but what helps such a fellow is not the love for the spouse but God's love over him/her. He/ she focuses on Jesus Christ at Calvary and out of trouble he goes. God is so merciful that He does not treat us as our sins deserve. It is Him who does not lead us into temptation but delivers us from evil as we always pray. It is not our strength or understanding or craftiness, it is not our ability or power like that of the American made-believe superman movie hero. Our daily duty is read His word, hide it in our hearts and apply it in our daily lives so as to get connected to our Head who is Jesus Christ. When connecetd to Him, we cannot be deceived by any persuassive words even if we are far apart separated by distance. Here are Paul's words;
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it[b] with thanksgiving.
There are many philosphies as there are many marriage philosophers on this earth. There are very many books on marriage at the moment than there were during the days of our parents. Our fathers never had an opportunity of even going to school to acquire the skill of reading but their marriages stood. There was no divorce in the African societies. If a man or woman cheated on the spouse, this was hundled amicably and there was no divorce. Women used to run away from an abusive husband but she still considered herself married to the father of the children. If she got married elsewhere, she could be brought back if the man changed for good and preference was given to the first husband. If she did not want to go back, she still stayed in her second marriage but she still had the liberty to go back to her first marriage.
There was poligamy yes, but this was functional and not selfish as people look at it. There were many reasons for this. Men among the Kalenjins could go away from their families for months in search of pasture for their animals and they could still come back to their wives. Our problem is that we have drunk intoxicating venom from the western thought patterns and have left our own traditions calling them sin or even devilish. Paul warns the Colosians in the following words:
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Now, since we have Jesus Living in Us and we are walking in Him. We have to live according to him. As one lives away from his/her spouse, s/he should know that it's nolonger him that lives but Christ living in him. It is Christ who empowers Christians to live by His word and to Obey His law of loving one another John 13: 34-35. I know would like to share with you what I got from www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/everydaylight/ of
September 6
Our Three Primary Needs
For reading & meditation - Colossians 2:1-10
"... in Him you have been made complete ..." (v. 10, NASB)
The first principle we must learn if we are to recover from the brokenness caused by troubles in the home is: Depend on God, and not on anyone else, to meet the deepest needs of your personality. Allow this truth to take hold of your innermost being and you will become a transformed person. The most basic needs of our personality are these: (1) the need to be loved unconditionally (security); (2) the need to be valued (self-worth), and (3) the need to make a meaningful contribution to God's world (significance). Human beings can only function effectively to the degree that these needs are met. If they are unsatisfied, our ability to function as a person is greatly hindered; if they are adequately met, then, other things being equal, we have the potential of functioning effectively. Notice, however, this important point - our needs for security, significance, and self-worth can be fully met only in a close and ongoing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If we do not let Christ meet those needs, then because they have to be met in order for us to function effectively, we will attempt to get them met in and through others. Although many do not realize it, this is what draws many people toward marriage, because they see the possibility of having their needs met through their partner. But no human being, however loving, kind, and considerate they may be, can fully meet these needs. I say again: they can be met fully only in a close and ongoing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Father, I sense that I am on the verge of something big and challenging. Help me to grasp this, for I sense that if I do, I shall become a transformed person. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
For Further Study Ephesians 1
1.Where is Christ?
2. Where are we?
For reading & meditation - Colossians 2:1-10
"... in Him you have been made complete ..." (v. 10, NASB)
1.Where is Christ?
2. Where are we?
