10. Marriage Devotional: Toward a New Breed of Men

Marriage Devotional: Toward a New Breed of Men

Author: Dennis Rainey

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

    Why do Fortune 500 companies pay such huge salaries to their top executives? Because they know that leadership makes a difference. As a husband and father, your leadership will make a difference in your family. Oh, your wife and children may survive from day to day, but are they heading anywhere? Are they growing in Christlike character? Are they focusing on what is important?

    There is no question why so many marriages and families are in trouble. Too many men are functioning only as material providers. We need a new breed of men who can appreciate and expend energy, time and—most importantly—focused attention on the spiritual aspect of family life.

    We need a new breed of men who have the ability to focus on the unseen—the eternal—as well as the seen. Men who will say no to more bucks when it means sacrificing their families. A new breed who will ask, with every decision they make: "How will this affect the relationships within my family?"

    We need a new breed of men who will recognize they need to leave something to posterity that will outlive the financial inheritances they may leave for their children: proven character. . .a new breed of men who realize that to succeed in the eyes of men but fail in the eyes of God is the ultimate failure.

    One man has said, "It is better to fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail."

    Will you take upon yourself the challenge Albert Einstein gave a group of young scientists? While addressing this highly motivated group of young men, he said, "Gentlemen, try not to become men of success. But rather, try to become men of value."

Discuss:

    What material things do you hope to leave to your children? What specific spiritual values do you hope to instill in them? Which of these "keepsakes" is more important?

Pray:

    Imagine your children as grown and established in their own families. Pray for what each one will become.

9. Hymn: Fairest Lord Jesus

Hymn: Fairest Lord Jesus

Translation: Joseph A. Seiss (1823-1904)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. Fairest Lord Jesus,
    Ruler of all nature,
    O Thou of God and man the Son,
    Thee will I cherish,
    Thee will I honor,
    Thou, my soul‵s glory, joy, and crown.

2. Fair are the meadows,
    Fairer still the woodlands,
    Robed in the blooming garb of spring:
    Jesus is fairer,
    Jesus is purer,
    Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

3. Fair is the sunshine,
    Fairer still the moonlight,
    And all the twinkling starry host:
    Jesus shines brighter,
    Jesus shines purer,
    Than all the angels heaven can boast.

4. Beautiful Savior!
    Lord of the nations!
    Son of God and Son of Man!
    Glory and honor,
    Praise, adoration,
    Now and forevermore be Thine!

8. Hymn: Higher Ground

Hymn: Higher Ground

Author: Johnson Oatman, Jr. (1856-1922)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. I’m pressing on the upward way,
    New heights I’m gaining ev‵ry day;
    Still praying as I’m onward bound,
    “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Refrain:

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand

By faith, on heaven’s tableland;

A higher plane than I have found,

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

2. My heart has no desire to stay
    Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
    Though some may dwell where these abound,
    My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

3. I want to live above the world,
    Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
    For faith has caught a joyful sound,
    The song of saints on higher ground.

4. I want to scale the utmost height,
    And catch a gleam of glory bright;
    But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
    “Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”

7. A Quote from A. W. Tozer (7)

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6. A Quote from C. H. Spurgeon (9)

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5. A Quote from T. Austin-Sparks (7)

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4. A Quote from Warren W. Wiersbe (6)

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3. Hymn: Wonderful Peace

Hymn: Wonderful Peace

Author: W. D. Cornell (1858-1936)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
    Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
    In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls
    O’er my soul like an infinite calm.

Refrain:

Peace! Peace! wonderful peace,

Coming down from the Father above;

Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,

In fathomless billows of love.

2. What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
    Buried deep in the heart of my soul;
    So secure that no power can mine it away,
    While the years of eternity roll.

3. I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
    Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
    For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
    And His glory is flooding my soul.

4. And methinks when I rise to that City of peace,
    Where the Author of peace I shall see,
    That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing,
    In that heavenly kingdom shall be.

5. Ah! soul, are you here without comfort or rest,
    Marching down the rough pathway of time?
    Make Jesus your friend ere the shadows grow dark;
    Oh, accept this sweet peace so sublime.

2. A Quote from Oswald Chambers (8)

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1. A Quote from Oswald Chambers (7)

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