Daily Devotional
Are Your Standards Too High?
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
Genesis 2:24
April 20, 2022
Ponder This
The Bible says a husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the Church. Is Jesus Christ committed to the Church? Or, when we fail, does Jesus say, “So long. I want a divorce from you. I no longer want to be your Lord, your Savior”? No! The Lord stays with us, and He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Praise God for that.
You want me to tell you what a perfect husband is? A perfect husband is a man who does not demand a perfect wife. You want me to tell you what a perfect wife is? One who does not demand a perfect husband. Have you ever thought that your spouse’s failures may be God’s gift to you to help you develop character? His or her lateness may be God’s gift to help develop your patience. God knows what He’s doing. None of us is perfect. What a shame to let 90 percent of a good marriage go down the tubes because of a 10 percent problem. There needs to be a lifetime commitment. To be joined in today’s text means to be glued together, welded together. You are one flesh.
- How has Christ loved you? How can this be applied to marriage?
- If you are married, what are the areas in which you might have an impossibly high standard for your spouse? What needs to change?
Practice This
If you are married, have a conversation with your spouse about the ways you might have held an unrealistic expectation and discuss changes you want to pursue moving forward in God’s grace.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
