Prepared in Love: Seen it? Heard it? Allowed it?

Consider what you have prepared in love for your wife, kids, and others. It took prep work based on your love for them even before they had seen it, heard it, or even allowed it into their hearts. Do you remember the response or reaction when it came to fruition? That look on their face and the joy in their hearts? Do you remember when it happened to you?

Prepared in love – Consider what God has done:

God has prepared in love:

• A place for us in heaven, where we will see his face and enjoy his presence forever. Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3)
• A new heaven and a new earth, where there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. John saw a vision of this and wrote, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” (Revelation 21:1-4)
• Good works for us to do, that we may glorify him and serve others. Paul wrote, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
• A crown of righteousness for us, that we may receive it on the day of his appearing. Paul wrote, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8)
• A banquet for us, where we will feast with him and his people. Jesus told a parable of this and said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’” (Matthew 22:2-4)

Imagine what all God has and is prepared in love for us. These are but a few examples. Let’s be the dads who imitate our Heavenly Father when it comes to preparing good things for our wives, kids, and others.

Today’s Verse of the Day:

Firstly, let’s be the dads who are ready to not only receive from God but also give to our wives and kids things which their eyes have not seen, nor ears have heard. Secondly, let’s be the dads who are blessing and loving on our wives and kids to the point of which they have not even been able to receive yet. Thirdly, let’s be the dads who love God and choose to hold Him in affectionate reverence, obey Him, and gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed!

How can we apply today’s verse of the day towards being the dads our wives and kids need us to be? What is it we can take from it and do that will bring God praise, honor, and glory?

Applications of 1 Corinthians 2:9 to help us be the dads who prepared in love things for our wives, kids, and world that will glorify God:

• Anticipate with Faith:
  • Approach each day with the anticipation that God has prepared wonderful things for you, your wife, and kids. Have faith that God’s plans are beyond what you can see or imagine.
• Model Love and Reverence:
  • Demonstrate love and affectionate reverence for God in your daily life. Let your children see your commitment to God, and in doing so, teach them the importance of holding God in high regard.
• Imitate God’s Preparation:
  • Imitate God’s example by actively preparing and working towards creating a loving and nurturing environment for your family. Plan and execute thoughtful gestures that go beyond what your family expects.
• Encourage Spiritual Growth:
  • Foster an environment where spiritual growth is encouraged. Share with your family the joy and fulfillment that comes from obeying God and holding Him in reverence.
• Express Gratitude:
  • Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Teach your family to recognize and appreciate the blessings God has bestowed upon them. Encourage them to express thanks for both small and significant things.
• Serve Others:
  • Engage your family in acts of service to others. Show them the joy that comes from being a blessing to those around you. This could be through volunteering together or helping neighbors in need.
• Plan Family Worship:
  • Establish regular family worship or prayer time. Use this time to reflect on the goodness of God and to seek His guidance and blessings as a family.
• Teach Hope and Resilience:
  • Emphasize the hope that comes from knowing God’s plans for the future. Teach your children to be resilient in the face of challenges, knowing that God has prepared something beyond their current understanding.
• Create Lasting Memories:
  • Be intentional about creating lasting memories for your family. Plan special moments and experiences that they may not have even imagined. These could be simple family outings, surprise celebrations, or unique traditions.
• Share the Gospel:
  • Share the good news of God’s love with your family and encourage them to share it with others. This includes not only verbalizing the Gospel but also living it out in your actions and relationships.

Remember, being a dad prepared in love involves actively living out the values and teachings of God, creating an environment that reflects His love, and guiding your family towards a deeper relationship with Him.