Good morning, “I wonder what she sees in him?” It’s the question asked when someone doesn’t understand why a wife would have agreed to marry her husband. It could be prompted by the obvious flaws of the husband. He’s messy or he doesn’t have refined social graces. No doubt the wife looked past the shortcomings and saw admirable qualities as well. The truth is that there is no perfect husband and no perfect wife. Each spouse will see in their lifelong partner a sinner who falls far short of perfection in their words and actions. At the same time, children of God do see perfection in their spouses, and for that matter, in every fellow believer. It doesn’t come from them. Instead, it’s a gift from God. He has made us the bride of Christ. What did He see in us? It certainly wasn’t perfection. “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me,” David wrote in Psalm 51:5. Yet God loved us and sent His Son to make us holy in His sight. “He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness...as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Is. 61:10). Jesus’ holiness is ours by faith. Our sin was paid for by His suffering and death. Peter now urges, “Husbands...be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life” (1 Pet. 3:7). Whether we are spending today with our spouse, family members, or others in the family of faith, may we see them as God does: blameless and perfectly pleasing for Jesus’ sake. May we likewise live in such a way that they see the same in us. Yours in Christ, Pastor Services tomorrow are at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday school begins at 9:15 a.m. and adult Bible class at 9:30 a.m. Voters, please note that the quarterly meeting is scheduled for a week from tomorrow, Jan. 23, after second service. One agenda item is the election of delegates and alternates for the Great Lakes Delegate Conf. (June 6-7, Saginaw, MI) and the CLC Convention in Eau Claire (June 23-26). If you would be willing to be nominated to represent Messiah at either or both of these gatherings, please let me or Elders chairman Norm Mackensen know.
