By Eddie Smith
If we behave in a manner that is inconsistent with our praying, we are doubleminded.
And a doubleminded person should not think he or she will receive anything from the Lord (see Jas 1:58).
Mary has prayed for her husband's salvation for twenty four years. Ben has no time
for God and shows virtually no interest in coming to know Him. The problem is that
although Mary prays faithfully for Ben's salvation, she treats him like her "spiritual
junior."
Her behavior belies her praying. She's incongruent, doubleminded, and with her behavior she's writing "void" across the prayers she prays.
When they were first married, Ben was "the man of her dreams. But she has long since elevated herself and her relationship with God above Ben, and believe me, he feels it. Mary would never believe how hurtful this can be to a man who knows almost nothing about Christ.
For a man to share his wife's affection with another man is difficult. But how does
one compete for the affection of his wife with a man he cannot see?! Trust Christ?
Love God? How can he do that? Christ (in Ben's mind) has come between him and
his wife.
Actually, I know of many examples of wives of lost husbands whose relationship with
Christ has made them so adoring of and affectionate toward their husbands that
their husbands are actually grateful for their wives' commitment to Christ.
In Mary's case, she must begin to treat Ben like the man she wants him to be,
instead of the man he currently is, if she's going to convince Ben, God, and others
that she already sees him (with the eyes of faith) saved!
When she puts her faith into action, and by faith begins to show Ben the respect and
honor due a spiritual man, God will move according to her expectation.
If we behave in a manner that is inconsistent with our praying, we are doubleminded.
And a doubleminded person should not think he or she will receive anything from the Lord (see Jas 1:58).
Mary has prayed for her husband's salvation for twenty four years. Ben has no time
for God and shows virtually no interest in coming to know Him. The problem is that
although Mary prays faithfully for Ben's salvation, she treats him like her "spiritual
junior."
Her behavior belies her praying. She's incongruent, doubleminded, and with her behavior she's writing "void" across the prayers she prays.
When they were first married, Ben was "the man of her dreams. But she has long since elevated herself and her relationship with God above Ben, and believe me, he feels it. Mary would never believe how hurtful this can be to a man who knows almost nothing about Christ.
For a man to share his wife's affection with another man is difficult. But how does
one compete for the affection of his wife with a man he cannot see?! Trust Christ?
Love God? How can he do that? Christ (in Ben's mind) has come between him and
his wife.
Actually, I know of many examples of wives of lost husbands whose relationship with
Christ has made them so adoring of and affectionate toward their husbands that
their husbands are actually grateful for their wives' commitment to Christ.
In Mary's case, she must begin to treat Ben like the man she wants him to be,
instead of the man he currently is, if she's going to convince Ben, God, and others
that she already sees him (with the eyes of faith) saved!
When she puts her faith into action, and by faith begins to show Ben the respect and
honor due a spiritual man, God will move according to her expectation.
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