Most of you know I’m not an avid follower of any high-profile ministries, since all ministries have failings and can’t be swallowed whole. But these snippets from a Joyce Meyer message on “Respect in Marriage” rang true:
“You should honor and respect your husband above all the other people on earth.” More than kings. More than CEOs. More than celebrity preachers. He is to you in marriage as Christ is to the Church. (Eph 5:21-33) (1 Pet 3:1-7)
“You should always speak to your husband like he’s a high-ranking dignitary.” If you wouldn’t say it to (or in front of) someone really important, you shouldn’t say it to him.
When convicted about her casual, often disrespectful manner toward her husband, Joyce said she protested, “But if I can’t be myself [blowing up, speaking my mind in anger or scorn] with my husband, who can I be myself with?”
God’s response by the Spirit was: “That’s the POINT. That IS you.”
What comes out of our mouths to those we can get by with disrespecting reveals what’s actually in our hearts. And this truth goes beyond just husbands.
Selah. (Pause and reflect upon this.)
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” (Mt 15:18)
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (James 3:9-10)
© 2015 Deborah Morris
Eternity in My Heart 