“Wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be also” – Jesus the Messiah, Matthew 6: 21
As the time nears for my wedding day, I have had to really focus my prayers on true manhood and womanhood. Given the opportunity to experience the most powerful uniting of hearts on this planet really rockets you into a sensitivity about male and female identity. For example, I look at the news totally differently now. Talks about Iran’s nuclear weapons program? Government shutdown? It’s actually about demonstrating true manhood according to the Bible!
Paul writes in I Timothy, “The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live…since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray – not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God” (I Timothy 2: 1-3, 8).
True manhood expresses patience, joy, meekness, gratitude, and conjugality. It goes the extra mile, steps OVER rather than ON, and it gets quiet instead of mad. Woman and men can express spiritual manhood – the qualities are independent of gender! Revolutionary ideas here, right? Who is really living that manhood today? For me, I don’t look to politicians, celebrities, or scholars in order to find a living example of true manhood. I look to the life and works of Christ Jesus found in the Holy Bible.
One of my most favorite examples of Jesus’ spiritual manhood is found at the end of the gospel of John. Jesus had just been crucified, resurrected, and came back to his disciples even though practically all of them deserted him. The first thing he says to them when he appears in their midst is, “Peace be with you!” (John 20: 19). Then he breathes on them so they can receive the Holy Spirit and reminds them, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (John 20: 23).
Now Jesus was not a complete alien without human feelings – he was still a man! And being fully divine in the form of a man on earth, he had to work out his own issues. That’s why I love the touching scene between Peter and Jesus at the very end of the gospel. Peter ditched him, denied him, and took off running, dragging most of the disciples back to a career in fishing after Jesus’ crucifixion. And how does Jesus handle it? Retribution? Accusation? No. He cooks him breakfast and asks him, “Simon, do you love me?“(John 21: 15). The first two times Jesus uses the greek word agape, which denotes spiritual, universal love; God’s love. When Jesus discerns that Peter isn’t quite ready for that kind of love, the third time he uses the word philia which denotes human love or friendship.
Jesus meets Peter where he is at. And I have to say that I’m experiencing that level of grace right now for myself. The Lord is really meeting me where I’m at with this marriage. It’s making me more honest, less theoretical in my spirituality, and more sensitive to the needs of humanity. Praise God!
The experience is also helping me to better understand true womanhood. The 31st chapter of Proverbs has always contained the perfect picture of womanhood, “Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life” (Proverbs 31: 10-11). I am finding that women are truly extraordinary beings. Their task management, diligence, focus, and sense of purpose is marvelous! The rest of that section in Proverbs does a wonderful job of really describing true womanhood: extending a helping hand to the poor, creativity, productivity, strength, wisdom, watchfulness, virtue, and, most importantly, a love for God.
Clarity of communication is so important in a marriage. And the most important aspect of clear communication? Asking questions and asking for help!!! I find that every time I ask my wife-to-be to help me I get so, so much out of it. And it builds the confidence and compassion needed to make her feel safe and secure in asking me for help the next time she needs it. As I recognize and cherish the light and power of the Holy Spirit in her, I find that same strength and action buoying me as we embark on some wonderful ministry adventure somewhere.
Our marriage is about our love, ministry, joy, humility, compassion, prayer, Christian Science, and peace for all mankind. It’s the only way marriage can work for us – and it’s wonderful. She is such a wonderful partner. To be able to know that your wife prizes the study and living of the Word of God as much as you do is the greatest assurance that the covenant of marriage will last. And we acknowledge that upon entering this sacred promise we are binding on earth what is bound in heaven (Matthew 18:18).
To any and all who treasure the love of God and marriage with God, Love, above all else through his Son Christ Jesus, we invite you to our wedding ceremony next Saturday, October 26th, beginning at 10 AM at the United Methodist Church located at 1020 Victoria Avenue at the corner of Victoria and Lincoln in Venice Beach, CA
- . The wedding will be “Venice Attire” and will have Biblical acts of love, celebration, and awesome worship!!!
Donations are kindly accepted for our ministry together and they can be sent through paypal to veritiya@gmail.com
Peace and blessings to all in the name of our Lord!!!
Michael and Ansley
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