We don't need to read our Bible's and pray because "that's what Christians do", because honestly, many Christians don't do that and many who do, do for the wrong reasons. We need to read our Bible and spend time communing with God because there are a million things during our day that scream, "Behold me! Behold me! Behold me and be . . ." Reading our Bible and spending time with God puts us in front of Christ. So, my terminology has changed as of late. I can't say, "I need to read my Bible". Honestly, that kind of language has been wrecked for me. When I wake up I say, "I must behold God today. He will make me glad and give me strength". When I find myself distracted or my attention is pressured I tell my heart to behold the cross, consider Jesus and be glad. Beholding is different than reading and memorizing Scripture is not for memorization's sake, it's for considering and recalling and beholding when you don't have the words in front of you.
So, what does this have to do with being a husband (hence the title)? Well, a good friend asked me to post something on "being a husband" so this is my crack at it. I've only been in the husband business for a little under two years but I've gained a few things that might be helpful to other husbands. This is one of them; if I need to behold to be glad, to fight sin and live a life pleasing to God than it's only natural (at least to me) that it be my responsibility to lead Cindy in beholding and being glad. This certainly doesn't mean that Cindy cannot do this herself, in fact there will be times and have been times when it was hard for me to "behold and be glad" and Cindy ministered to me and encouraged me with the Gospel, and I was glad! Nonetheless, I'm finding that an affective husband is a husband who is happy because of Jesus. An affective husband is one who looks for opportunities to say, "Look babe, see how Jesus/The Gospel is so (you fill in the attribute)!" or "Do see God's (you fill in the attribute) in this? Doesn't it make you glad? Let's pray for God to reveal Himself to us more and that it please us and make us the most glad."
As I behold, I feel charged with leading Cindy in beholding as well. This seems to be one of the ways we as husbands can aid in the sanctification of our wives and work out Ephesians 5:27-28).
I pray this was helpful and encouraging.
