Mirrored Reflections

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Husbands have a clear standard from scripture on how to conduct themselves to be a better husband...the kind of husband GOD has called them to be.

Ephesians 5:25-29 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:"

There is a little twist on this though, and that twist can be found in I Corinthians 11:7, "For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man."

Let's look at the later part of that scripture "but the woman is the glory of the man." When a husband makes the conscious effort and decision to model CHRIST, he is reflecting GOD'S glory. So if our husband is reflecting JESUS, which is the glory of GOD and woman is the the glory of man (meaning our husband) then we too should be reflecting the glory of GOD. Right!?!

We, as wives, are a direct reflection of our husband. Our husbands are responsible for us because we are a reflection of his character...this includes our attitudes, our actions & reactions, our emotions, our over all countenance.

GOD'S Holy Word is the blue print for how each of us should conduct our lives, in every situation. It's easier to follow HIS instruction if the task or situation before us isn't a hard one, but we all face those times when something or someone really grates on us or overwhelms us. Things that you did not ask for that have been thrown in your lap that should have never been can cause us to be in an uncomfortable place within. This can distract us from following the ways of the LORD if we let our carnal nature take over. But we have to learn to submit fully to the LORD and let HIM direct and guide us in our responses. It's not easy but with prayer and practice it can be done.

Ephesians 5:1-5, 9-10, 15-17 "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."... "(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. "..."See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

We need to be washed in the Word of the LORD daily, so that when situations, obstacles or snares befall us, we will know how to handle it, and ourselves, in a godly manner. This will ultimately result in a reflection that will honor our husband. Proverbs 31:11-12, 23 "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."..."Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land."

If we are displaying actions and attitudes that are contrary to the Word of GOD, people will be quick to see it. This can cause others to look at your life and your testimony with great question as to what "you" call being a Christian. Not only that, it can paint an unwarranted picture of who or what they think your husband is...reflecting a negative appearance against him.

One of the greatest reflections we have on our husband comes from our mouth. James 3: 3-10 (The Message Bible) "A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!"

Regardless of how 'justified' we feel it is for us to lash out and speak our minds to another that may have wronged us or treated us negatively, we need to guard our tongue. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Proverbs 25:11 Just because we think something, doesn't mean it should be said. When we say something, it's out there and we can't take it back, so be careful as to when and what you say.

We also need to guard our heart...Proverbs 4:23-24 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee." Matthew 12:34b-36 "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."

Proverbs 31:26 "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." If we want to reflect the glory and honor of our husbands we need to get a grip on our tongue, our actions, our thoughts and bring them under submission. Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."

Take a moment and evaluate yourself. If you were to ask your husband what reflection he sees when he looks at you, would he be able to say that you truly bring him honor? Or would he say that you leave a lot to be desired? Let's all help our husbands be the godly men that they have been chosen to be, by being the godly wives we have been called to be. We can choose today to be a shining reflection or gray shadow for our spouse. The choice is up to you.