ODOUR OF THE OINTMENT

Bible Texts: Jn.12:2-3, Jn.10:27, Gen.18:19, Rom.12:1-3, Col.3:19, Eph.6:4, 1Cor.13:4-8, Matt.5:14-16

The teaching today, as inspired by the Person of the Holy Spirit, is from John Gospel chapter 12. And I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that you will see the lessons in the Scripture and run with them to the end that you become the good and godly husbandman in Jesus name. Amen,

Some years ago, I drove my children to school with my wife in the car with us. Several minutes after the children had been dropped off at their various schools, my wife suddenly turned to me and asked who sprayed her perfume. I told her I didn’t and did not know who wore her perfume but asked her how she knew someone wore her perfume. She replied me and said she perceived it. On the children’s return from school, my wife asked them the same question she asked me earlier in the day and one of her daughters admitted she wore the perfume. Her daughter actually wore the perfume before we left home that morning. The odour of the ointment was perceived by the person who owned it.  That speaks to who you are as the good and godly husbandman.

There they made a pound of ointment of spikenard, VERY COSTLY, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair and THE HOUSE WAS FILLED WITH THE ODOR OF THE OINTMENT (Jn.12:2-3) KJV. I want you to note two very important things from the Scriptures. The first is that the ointment is very costly. Secondly, it filled the house long after the incident. Your life as the good and godly man, husband and father is expected to leave a lasting positive impact in the lives of your wife and children. Even when your wife and children are away from home, the people around them should see the influence your life has made in their lives. God wants to testify about you and He wants you to leave a sweet odour in your sheepfold. The Bible confirms this in Gen.18:19.

For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him (Gen.18:19).

So, how do I smell good to my wife and children long after I am away from them? Principally, you achieve this by four major channels. What you do with what you have; what you say; how you react to them during their low and high moments; what you think about them in your heart. All of these influence the quality of relationship you will have with them. If your words are filled with grace; if you celebrate them for those little achievements or marks they achieve; if you consider and treat them as God’s gifts to you, you become a strong voice in their lives. And that’s what the Scripture explains in Jn.10. For my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me (Jn.10:27).

When your voice of positive and righteous influence is loudest in the lives of your wife and children, then you can say that your house is filled with the sweet odour of godly ointment. God wants you to raise for Him good and godly wife, children and home, the same way He is working to raise you up as the good and godly shepherd. You must pursue this plan of God for your life.

SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

• Father, in the Name of Jesus, anoint me with fresh oil to be a positive influence over and in the lives of my wife and children.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, empower me by Your Spirit to function in my office as the good and godly husbandman.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, empower me with divine wisdom so that I can become a sweet fragrance to my wife, children and in my home.

FAITH CONFESSION

I am bought with the precious blood of Jesus and I reflect His nature and character in my relationship with my wife, children and in my home because that is what makes me the good and godly husbandman in Jesus Name. Amen.

Force of Change 2022/2023: 70 Days of Fasting with Prayers

• PRAYER FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS (27^TH JAN TO 5^TH FEB 2023)

Ps.45:4, Gen.39:2, Gen.24:1, Gen.13:1, Job 8:6, Zech.8:12, Is.48:15, Job 36:11, Ps.35:27, Jer.22:21, Zech.1:17, Zech.7:7, 2Chro.22:11, 2Chro.26:5, Neh.2:20, Ps.1:3, Pro.17:8, 2Chro.14:7

Day 41

• Father, in the Name of Jesus, make me financially prosperous in the year 2023 and let no one deny Your blessings in my life
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, prosper my family and the works of our hands in the year 2023
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, destroy the power of poverty, shame, struggle, reproach and emptiness in our lives in 2023

The devotional IN TUNE WITH GOD© is published by The Husbandman Mission International, Headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria.

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Jesus Christ is Lord over all.

Bro. Ebenezer O. Igure

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