|
Mary is a baptized, born again believer that was once dead in her
trespasses, and sins. She used to live as the world lived, obeyed the “prince of the power of the air,” and walked
as a daughter of disobedience; a child of wrath. But by grace, and not because she was so good looking or had a nice body,
Mary was saved by her faith in Christ. Even in her disobedience, God loved her, and Christ died for her. God planned long
ago that Mary would become His “workmanship,” and that she in Christ Jesus would now be used for “good works.”
(Ephesians 2:1-3, v.10) KJV
In times past, Mary was “Uncircumcised,” a Gentile in
the flesh (vs.11). She was separated from Christ, and “excluded from the commonwealth of Israel” (vs.12). But
PRAISE is to God, she is no longer a stranger to “the covenant of promise,” and now she has hope, and God is directing
her life in this dark world. Here are just a few of the blessings that Mary now has in Christ, and there are much, much more:
§ Through Christ, access by one Spirit unto the Father-(Ephesians
2:18)
§ No longer a stranger and alien-(vs. 19)
§ Fellow citizen with the saints, and are of God’s household-(v.19)
§ Fellow
heir and fellow member of the body-(Ephesians 3:6)
§ Fellow partaker of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel-(v.6)
§ Christ
dwells in her heart through faith (v.17)
§ She has power that works within her-(v.20)
§ God is at work in
Mary (Philippians 2:13)
.......................................................
All of the promises of God belong to Mary now, and you husband, they
are yours as well, in Christ. However, you can block your blessings based on how you treat your wife:
“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding
way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life,
so that your prayers will not be hindered,” (1 Peter 3:7).
Do you see where I am going with this? Mary doesn’t become a
second-class citizen when she becomes a Christian wife. Her position within the kingdom of God is just as valuable as her
husband’s. Of course, the husband and wife may have different roles, but the wife’s ultimate spiritual status
in Christ is the same as the husband’s. Ok, let’s say you are Mary’s husband. If you never married Mary,
would not your individual positions within Christ still stand? The only difference after marriage is simply, you are married.
Christ doesn’t lower the spiritual status of Mary to become
your personal whipping post. Nor is she to be trampled underfoot. There are biblical guidelines for establishing and maintaining
a peaceful marriage. However, Mary's obedience is to God, and Jesus Christ-FIRST, and so is yours. Before Mary became
your wife, she was spiritually married to Christ FIRST!
.......................................................
|
