Main Scriptures: Jn.3:13-17
More Scriptures: 1Cor.13:13, Eph.5:25, Eph.6:4
Yesterday, we consider the first attitude of the shepherd’s love to his wife and children. This is so important because you know a thing by its nature. And so, if you claim you love your wife and children, then it must reflect in the quality and quantity of your giving-your time, emotion, energy and resources. As the husbandman and Christ’s representatives in your sheepfold, you must have a deeper encounter with the Person of the Holy Spirit, Jesus and His love before you can give God’s kind of love to them. I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing (Jn.15:5) NIV. In Acts 3:1-3, Apostle Peter said to the man at the Beautiful gate, such as I have I give unto you….. You must regularly desire the infilling of the love of Christ by feeding on His word-the Bible. The more of His word you take into your spirit, the more of His nature you have in you. And when you become filled with His love to a point of overflow, it affects your wife and children positively.
Another character of your love to your sheep is in interceding for them. Intercession demands that you invest your time in praying for your wife and children in all aspect of their lives. It is the key to getting your seed of love you planted in their lives to bear fruits. The Scripture tells us the importance of travailing for our sheep. I travail on my knees until Christ be formed in you…..(Gal.4:19) When you intercede for your wife and children, you prepare their hearts and minds to willingly and cheerfully receive the seeds of love that you give. The Scripture tells us that the king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord and He turns it wherever he will (Prov.21:1). The will of God is for your wife and children to be like Him. He wants them to become as salt and light to their world. Above all, God wants you to enjoy the fruits of your love investment from your sheep-submission and respect and honour.
Praying that the nature of God be formed in the lives of your wife and children is like adding fertilizer to your seed. Another wisdom key that you must know about giving your prayer investment to your sheep is that when you intercede for them, you are sowing fruitfulness into their future. As the head of your family and mentor to your wife and children, you can use the power of intercession to recover and restore your sheep. Complaining about your sheep will not solve the problem. Physically or mentally abusing your wife and children will only worsen the situation. Simply give love and water it with prayers and watch the God of all flesh transform your wife and children.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISE
- Father, by Your Spirit, endue me with power to nurture Your love in my heart for the benefit of my wife and children.
- Father, by Your Spirit, share abroad in my heart Your love and let it flow to my sheep.
- Father, by Your Spirit, fill my heart with great visions of Your love for my wife and children.
FAITH CONFESSION
I travail on my knees for my wife and children until Christ is formed in them because that is what makes me the good and godly husbandman in Jesus name. Amen.
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Thank you for your sharing of the Lord’s word today. I am committed to being the spiritual head of my household. My family will not want of love from me for they will be washed in it, just as God’s love and mercy washes over me.