My Character

Image by jcoterhals via Flickr

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.
1 John 3:3 (HCSB)

OK look in the mirror of the Bible.  What do you see?  God's desire is that we trust in Christ and sanctify our lives in Him.  Often we are more comfortable to looking at other's shortcomings as I said in the last post.  So what does it mean to focus on your own Character as a husband or a wife?  Let me list share a list:

A husband is to...

Bond with his wife	Gen 2:23-24; Mark 10:7
Protect his wife from rash decisions	Num 30:8
Satisfy her in the marriage bed and bring joy and pleasure to her	Deut 24:5; Matt 5:32; 1 Cor 7:1-5
Take pleasure in his wife for life	Prov 5:18
Praise his wife	Prov 31:28
Enjoy life with his wife and Love for her for life	Eccl 9:9
Never act in secret or deceit (Treacherously)	Mal 2:15
Demonstrate love and sacrifice toward his wife	Eph 5:25-33
avoid bitterness toward his wife	Col 3:19
Understanding his wife's weaker nature (See Here)	1 Peter 3:7
Showing his wife honor as a equal partner before God	1 Peter 3:7

A Wife is to:

Reward her husband with good and not evil	Prov 31:12
Watch over her household	Prov 31:27
Satisfy her husband in the marriage bed	1 Cor 7:1-5
Not leave her husband If separated remain unmarried or be reconciled	1 Cor 7:10-11
Commit to husband for life	1 Cor 7:39
Respect and honor her husband	Eph 5:22; Eph 5:33; Col 3:18
demonstrate Purity, reverence, gentleness, quietness of spirit.	1 Peter 3:1-6; Titus 2:4-5

This flies in the face of our modern culture.  These gender roles are often ridiculed, maligned, and misused.  That should not be suppressing really.  The distortion of the God's Word has happened from the very beginning.  One way to avoid misusing or abusing these scriptures is to use them as a mirror and not a microscope.  What I am saying is men focus on your character as a husband and the corresponding verses.  And women focus on your character as a wife and the corresponding verses.  When you focus on your spouse's role these passages can be used to destroy your relationship with them (something I am certain God does not intend) or worse as an excuse as to why you are not doing your part. 

Pray over these items as ask God if there is any impure way in your relationship with your spouse and meditate upon the passages.  As God's Spirit convicts you put these convections into action.  It is not enough to feel badly about not fulfilling your role as a husband or wife.  Repentance involves some sort of change.  

Next Post: Focusing on your spouse's needs.