Showing your Husband the Light: Jesus Christ in You!

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

Dear Ladies,  many of us are so familiar with Matthew 5:16, that we really do not put much thought to it.  It has become "cliche" to many and lost much valuable meaning.   I know many whom succeed quite well in shining Christ's light while out and about "before men", however, some of these same women, unfortunately and disastrously (and often unintentionally) neglect the fact that FIRST it is necessary to be shining our Light before our husbands.

This week's challenge is to remember Matthew 5:16 and work to apply it to our roles as Christian wives.  This role will not differ whether we have a Christian husband or not. No matter our location or condition, as much as is humanly possible (which is quite a lot when we fully utilize Christ's help), our behaviour as Christians should always mirror the command of Matthew 5:16.

Roadblock #1: The unbelieving husband

 It may seem quite challenging with a non-believing husband, whom may have certain "walls" up against recognizing Christ as the authentic and only way to heaven.  Perhaps his family upbringing has jaded him against Christ by mis-representing Christ or by simply teaching of an entirely different "God" (or lack thereof).  Perhaps, the non-believing husband just knows nothing at all about Christ beyond hearsay and "politically correct" misinformation from the media.  All of these circumstances are tragedies. Fortunately, our God is up to the task!

For with God nothing shall be impossible.  Luke 1:37 

Roadblock #2: The believing husband

On the other hand, it may seem challenging to a wife of a believer, even, whose husband expects certain Christ-like behaviours and takes them for granted. He may believe Christ-like behavior is simply the wife's required duty being done (rather than a product of her heart being committed to Christ). This could make it hard for you to show your husband the living Christ is at work in you, you are not just working to fulfill your responsibilities. 

With these and many other potential hurdles, what a challenge it is to show our husbands the living Christ in us!

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.  Matthew 19:26 

 So, why should we focus on showing our HUSBANDS the living Christ in us?

Because no man has ever seen God! Though, Jesus was here, declaring God to the world, for a brief time period, when Jesus ascended to heaven, he left it up to us to declare God to the world!  (yes, that most certainly includes our husbands!)

"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." John 1:18

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" John 1:12

The Greek root word for "declare" in John 1:18 means "to consider out (aloud)" (KJV Strong's Exhaustive Concordance).  All that receive Jesus become sons of God. So, now it is our turn, as children of the Lord, to DECLARE God to the world, beginning with our husbands.

Your husband is the most important human in our world, to you (or he certainly should be) so begin by showing Christ to your husband!

How do you do this?  We declare Christ by learning about Him and then behaving as Christ tells us to behave.

You must declare to be an American (as a legal immigrant) by studying the U.S. Constitution, reading U.S. history, accepting U.S. laws and learning atleast enough English so you can pass the immigration tests and take the oath to become a U.S. citizen.  Then you may go on by working on an elections team, voting in elections, or possibly even signing up for military service. 

Declaring to be a Christian is equally involved. We must learn about God before we can declare Him and show his Light to anyone.  So, read your Bible. Discover the history of your God. Embrace his laws and commandments (the "Ten Commandments" are a good start on that).  Learn His "language" (a concordance is a great way to get to the real meaning of words you do not clearly understand).

Show your Light to your husband by the "fruit of the Spirit"!

 

 All Christians should persevere to exhibit these virtues.

 

 How greatly we will shine the Light of Christ, if we remember these virtues while interacting with our husbands!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love,

 joy,

 peace,

 longsuffering,

 gentleness,

 goodness,

 faith,

Meekness,

 temperance:

against such there is no law."

Galatians 5:22-23

On an endnote, let us remember that we love God and accept His Light to lead our lives because He has forgiven us our many transgressions and sins.  Nobody would be reading the Bible today if God only condemned us and held our sins against us forever.
  In like manner, we must forgive our husbands for all of their transgressions and sins against us if we expect them to see and love the Light that is living in us.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (KJV) (underlined emphasis mine)

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Luke 6:36-38 (KJV) (underlined emphasis mine)

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

The Bible is overflowing with God's wisdom for your marriage! I challenge you to dig for more, but have posted some additional detailed readings below that should keep us busy for quite some time!

Additional Detailed Readings:

Proverbs 31- great insight into Godly behaviour in women 
1 Peter 3 - The Man-Wife relationship
Colossians 3 - the Christian Family relationship

Proverbs 31:10-31

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
¹¹ The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
¹² She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
¹³ She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
¹⁵ She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
¹⁶ She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
¹⁸ She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
¹⁹ She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
²⁰ She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
²² She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
²⁵ Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
²⁷ She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
²⁹ Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
³⁰ Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

1 Peter 3

King James Version (KJV)

3 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

² While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
³ Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
⁴ But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
⁵ For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
⁶ Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
⁷ Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
⁸ Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
⁹ Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
¹⁰ For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
¹¹ Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

Colossians 3

King James Version (KJV)

3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
⁵ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
⁶ For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
⁷ In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
⁸ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
⁹ Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
¹⁰ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
¹¹ Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
¹⁴ And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
¹⁷ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
²¹ Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
²² Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;
²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
²⁴ Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
²⁵ But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.