Rich was taken back by the vastness of the lake on that rickety, brown bridge, as he peered over into the water. He and his wife Carol could see their reflections rippling on the surface. Their reflected faces looked distorted, and at times almost unrecognizable.

“What if I looked like this all the time?” Rich said, joking.

“I would still love you,” Carol said.

Carol’s words resounded loud in his ear. He knew he would remember them. It was a pivotal moment in their marriage.

I think of the love my wife gives me at times even when I am not deserving of it. Like Carol expressed to Rich, sometimes my attitude or my actions in my marriage don’t always reflect Jesus. (I’m just being honest.) I am not measuring on a human scale and perhaps in other people’s eyes it may not be a big deal. But when I think of how God gave us an example, a true reflection of His love for us by our spouses. I stand in awe. When I think about how much God loves us and how we are so undeserving of it, I marvel.

Lord you’re so kind and tenderhearted to those who don’t deserve it and so patient with people who fail you. Your love is like a flooding river overflowing its banks with kindness

~Psalm 103:8-9 TPT

What is more amazing than that, Jesus sees our distorted attitude and sinful ways and He still chooses to love us. No, he does not enjoy our ways in the moment but His love for us is unconditional. Paul reminds us, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children and walk in love just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 5:1,2).

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children and walk in love just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

~Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV

Jesus sees our distorted attitude and sinful ways and He still chooses to love us. #VineWords #Thereflection #CharlesEMaldon Click To Tweet

Jesus challenges us to reflect Him in our daily walk, especially in regard to our marriages. This is not always easy to do. It requires us to see beyond the surface or beyond what it appears to be.

Friend, I challenge you to look beyond the ripples of pain and hurt the plan God has for your marriage and family. Jesus is able to look beyond the distortion and see with purposed eyes and see a magnificent purpose for your life.

~Charles E. Maldon, Jr., Founder/Administrator of Naked But Not Ashamed, men’s ministry

Friend, I challenge you to look beyond the ripples of pain and hurt the plan God has for your marriage and family. Jesus is able to look beyond the distortion and see with purposed eyes and see a magnificent purpose for your life. How about you? Can you see with eyes of faith, God’s plan for your loved ones? He wants us to reflect His love so others can see the vastness of Him through us.

What areas are you reflecting Christ in your marriage, and what areas do you need His guidance? 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reflecting Your love through others. Help me to see those areas underneath the surface that cry for Your attention. Thank You for being patient with me even when what You see may not reflect Your true image. Thank You that You will help me every step of the way. Thank You also for helping me to be patient with my family as You also transform them.

In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Genre: Fiction–First paragraph; Non-fiction–Body

Copyright 2020: The Reflection: Charles E. Maldon, Jr.: All Rights Reserved.

Meet Our Contributor

CHARLES E. MALDON, JR.

Charles E. Maldon Jr., is an ordained reverend, speaker, writer, and mentor. However, the title he is most proud of is a servant of Christ. His mission in life is to encourage others to know their true value by developing an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ. As the Lord continues to mold him, Charles uses his colorful life experiences, both “good and bad”, as real-life ministry tools. He believes there are treasures to be found in every trial – perspective is everything. 

The crux of his writing is to bring others to freedom through authentic transparency. In addition to his writing, Maldon is the establisher of Naked But Not Ashamed Ministries which focuses on helping the family, especially men, be all that Christ created them to be. He enjoys helping men to fulfill there calling in life, relationships and manhood.

He is currently in the process of revising his book, In the Beginning: Godliness through Marriage. He is a member of the Maryland Writer’s Association and recently has joined Word Weavers. He also blogs on his ministry page Naked But Not Ashamed where his hope is that he touches someone with the love of Jesus where they are through his writing. He is a devotion/article writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, specializing in the area of marriage, with the goal of helping men improve their marriages.

Charles is the proud father of two boys and resides in North Carolina with his lovely wife Lekeisha. In his spare time, he enjoys working out, traveling and spending time with the family.

CONNECT WITH CHARLES MALDON AT

Charles Maldon Facebook

Charles Maldon Instagram

Charles Maldon Naked But Not Ashamed

BOOKSHELF

(to be added)