You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. ~ I Peter 3:7 (NASB)
READING: I Peter 3:1-7
I’ll never forget the night many years ago, when Jim and I sat in a living room, a thousand-mile journey from home and family, and I met the few people interested in our first church plant. The thought flashed through my mind, “Whatever was I thinking? How on earth can we feed our family by planting a new church?”
Now, years later, I better understand that moment of deeply feminine fear. It wasn’t merely a lack of faith.
I’ve noticed that church planting calls forth all that is most deeply and nobly masculine within a man’s heart – courage, hunting, overcoming obstacles, building something from nothing and conquering new territory. Church planting can reinforce a man’s visceral sense of his own manhood.
We women, on the other hand, must overcome our most deeply felt feminine yearnings – for safety, security and stability – to follow our husbands into church planting. We must resist our female instinct for comfort and softness, summoning instead a more manly courage and pioneer spirit. That’s why the same experience that might exhilarate you men may scare us just a bit – at least at first.
It calls for understanding, not condemnation; well worth the effort. A manly man who has learned how to be tender and considerate, partnered with a feminine woman who has risen to the challenge of living on the knife edge of courageous faith, together make a wonderfully well-balanced church planting team.
Dear Lord, Grant us today to serve you together as team mates, with mutual honor and kindness, that our prayers be answered. Amen.
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