Tuesday, October 26, 2010

He makes provision

In John 21, I found three instance of Christ providing for His disciples in different ways.  First, He supplied them with plenty (of fish) as they worked.  Then, by the time they got to shore He had a meal prepared (of fish also).  Then, as they were talking, He supplied His church with a conduit for His provision in Simon Peter, when he said three times that Peter was to feed Christ's sheep.
Joh 21:4-13  But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. (5) Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. (6) And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.(7)  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.  (8)  And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.  (9)  As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.  (10)  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.  (11)  Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
(12) Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. (13) Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
Joh 21:15-17  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  (16)  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (17)  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
We are to love our wives as Christ loved the Church.  A part of that is being thoughtful about providing for and nourishing our wives...not just by supplying money by working, but by recognizing current and future needs of all sorts and ensuring that as God enables us, they are provided for.  While He is The Provider, He has made us His typical means of provision for our wives, similar to how He provided for His sheep by sending them Peter to feed them.  While there are several areas in which we ought to be providing for our wives, He has specifically singled husbands out as a means for spiritual nourishment through the Word:

Eph 5:25-28  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) 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. (28) So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
1Co 14:34-35  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.  (35)  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Our wives need us to be able to feed them and answer questions, which sets the bar high, so come on, hoser...we need to be digging into the Word!

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