The Christian Home (3) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Author: Faith Oyedepo

Topic: The Christian Home (3)

Dear Reader,

It is a great joy for me to bring God’s Word your way today. It is a new day for you! Two weeks ago, I taught on: “What a Christian home is.” Last week, I explained to you the characteristics of a Christian home. Today, I want to show you what true love does in the home.

Love is a vital key for the effective running of the home. Love is the price every member of your home must pay to have a glorious home. The Word of God says: And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

If you want your home to be a glorious one, love is the requirement and it is mandatory. Also, note that this love does not have its origin in the world, but in God. The Word of God says: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (1 John 4:8). A Christian home must be one where the love of God is practised as a way of life.

WHAT TRUE LOVE DOES

By true love, I mean God’s kind of love that is demonstrated in actions. Let’s see in practical terms how Jesus loves and how He expects us to love. I shall be taking my text from 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. Reading from The Living Bible, it says: Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, Never haughty or selfish or rude.  Love does not demand its own way.  It is not irritable or touchy.  It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.

True love is patient and kind:

While Jesus walked on the earth, He was an epitome of patience and kindness. He tolerated and accommodated His disciples.  He could have given up on them out of anger, but He didn’t. Going beyond His disciples to the Jews at large, whose sick He healed, whose dead He raised and whose demoniacs He freed, Jesus was still an epitome of patience. He closed His eyes to their jeering and went to the Cross for all our sakes. Jesus was kindness personified! Many miracles He wrought were based on compassion.

God, then, instructed man to love as He did. But many things try the patience of husbands –especially, imperfect wives. However, if Christ was patient with us, then husbands ought to endure and be patient with their wives.

True love is never jealous or envious

I want you to know that Jesus was never jealous of His disciples’ achievements. When the 70 disciples went out in twos and wrought great deliverance, all Jesus said was: He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (John 14:12). Jesus’ love compelled Him not to envy the works of His disciples, but to desire that they did greater works. Likewise, husbands need not to feel threatened by their wives’ success. Rather, they should wish them well and encourage them to put in their best. Even if the wife earns more money, perfect love places a demand on the husband to desire only good for her.

True love is never boastful or proud

Jesus never spoke proudly or boastfully of Himself.  Everything He said and did on earth, He identified God the Father as the doer. The Word of God says: …The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do… (John 5:19). Jesus had cause to boast about His works, but His eyes were focused on God and on the ones He had come to save. Some husbands tend to get carried away with the things they provide in the house and are misled to think: “I am the breadwinner in this house. I do so and so. I give and give and give!” However, when you realise that the only reason you have is because God provided for you, your language will change.

True love is not selfish, haughty or rude

“Me, myself and I”, has destroyed so many homes. Another name for it is selfishness. Marriage is built on selflessness and courtesy. Jesus, our perfect example, was not selfish. He relinquished His throne to live on the earth for 331/2 years. The Word of God says: For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). Husbands must pay the price of selflessness, if they want an enviable marriage.

Does not demand its own way

Love does not demand its own way! This does not mean that the man should become subservient. No! The key word here is “demand”. This word means “to claim as a right.” Love means asking, “Could you do this please?” You’re neither begging, nor rude. It is a mixture of authority and courtesy. The Word of God says: Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones (Proverbs 16:24).

True love is not Irritable or touchy

This means that you should not be over-sensitive. Some people are offended at the slightest thing. They just flare up and fly off the handle. Some are very touchy. Husbands, learn to desensitize your nerve! If Jesus had been over-sensitive, He would have fought the Pharisees who always sought to trap him. Your wife is neither a Pharisee nor Sadducees; so, loosen up!

True love does not hold grudges or notice when it’s wronged

A grudge is an angry feeling against a person, for something he has done in the past; it leads to unforgiveness. But, true love forgives and forgets, and does not keep record of wrongs.

To have access to true love, you need to surrender your life to Christ by saying this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, pstfaithoyedepo@gmail.com; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).