Bible Verses About Marriage
Five Minutes in the Bible for Men
It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. — 1Peter 3:15
We live in a world which teaches us to be popular. We want everyone to like us. Who wants to be unpopular? As you look around your community you can identify the in-group. They drive the most popular car, live in the most popular neighborhood, go to the most popular restaurant, visit the most popular resorts, and wear the most popular sunglasses.
To be popular, you have to fit the mold that establishes what is popular. To step out from the crowd and be unpopular is seldom found, and to do that is never popular with the masses.
However, in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg. Luther became known as a reformer, and we remember his bold stand as a turning point in church history.
This priest exhibited great character of courage at criticizing the church’s practice of selling forgiveness through indulgences, which ultimately could lead people to think that whenever they sinned, they could just purchase forgiveness, thus making them less inclined to avoid sin.
Luther’s passion and zeal to prevent these practices did not make him popular with the Catholic leaders of his day. In fact, he became very unpopular.
There are times in each of our lives we must make a stand to speak words that are unpopular. As dads, we will have to say no, a word which is not always well-received by our children. As a businessman, you will have to say no when a business associate wants you to bend the rules to accommodate a client. As an actor, you might have to say no to a movie script that portrays sin that is not comfortable for you. Yes, there will be times in all our lives when we have to say no.
Living for God is about doing the right thing, even when it’s unpopular.
Right is right no matter how few are doing it and wrong is wrong no matter how many are doing it. — Unknown
Having God’s Word in our hearts doesn’t always result in warm, pleasant feelings. Sometimes God’s Word starts a blazing forest fire in one’s soul, causing us to challenge mainstream America. You might be called on to stand and call a spade a spade.
Unclean in the sight of God is everyone who is unrighteous: clean therefore is everyone who is righteous; if not in the sight of men yet in the sight of God, who judges without error. — St. Augustine
Prayer: Father God, let me be brave when I need to be. I want to have the courage to be unpopular when I have to stand for Your righteousness. Amen.
Insight: How might this teaching apply to your marriage? Talk together about how you might impact each other and influence those around you.
Action: Be willing to make a stand today when it might make you unpopular.
Copyright © Bob Barnes, published by Harvest House Publishers. Used with Permission.
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