Be Converted

“AND Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, verily, I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18 vs. 2-3).

“For the kingdom of God is not meet and drink, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14 vs. 17).

“Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity …” (Eccl. 9 vs. 9).

“Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out …” (Acts 2 vs. 19).

When I gave my life to Jesus, I didn’t grow taller or fatter or smaller. There was no much physical change; I still had same voice, skin colour and face. But I had changed. I had been converted.

It was difficult for some people to know until they show the change. The voice was the same, but the words had softened. My face is the same, but the looks have changed. So is it in marriage.

Conversion is absolutely necessary. And to be converted, repentance must take place. Repentance actually means a change of mind and ways of seeing things.

The kingdom of heaven does not necessarily mean a place we go after we have died; it is a system where God rules. And it is righteousness, peace and joy.

Is that not what we want in our marriages? Not just meat and drink. Some women got married because they want to have children, bear a man’s name or have a house they would ‘control.’ They want a place where they are in charge.

For the man, it may be that they want a sex partner or children or a sense of responsibility or status.

Whatever be your reason, peace, joy and right behaviour should characterise your home. That of course takes conversion. How do I mean?

Be converted and become a little child. If you marry and you think you have known all that you need to know, you are wrong; and you may have serious headaches.

The problem of some spouses is that they came into a marriage and think they have all the answers and those they would change their spouses and in-laws and can dictate things.

Children get to a new place and choose to learn. It is only when we are children or converted to become a child that we learn. We need to be teachable.

Husbands shouldn’t think that just because they are men, they know it all. Please, see counsel. People suggest that couples should stay alone and should not share their problems with their party. I don’t know where they get that.

But I can assure you that you need people to help you. Some things in marriage will confuse you if you don’t ask questions.

Read books, yes, but seek practical counsel. See, even the Internet is not all true; anything can be posted online. Please be careful. Have a pastor. Attend seminars. Be teachable.

Only children can be humble enough to be corrected. They are generous, forgiving and fun-loving.

To have peace and progress in your home you must become like a child. Laugh, joke, learn and play. Jesus actually said ‘a little child.’

Little children may be a nuisance, sometimes, yet they are loveable. So naturally, yet so sweet.

Jesus also said in that same Matthew that we should receive children (Matt. 18 vs. 5). Please receive your spouse, as you receive a child. You see and appreciate their innocence and love them unconditionally.

We must be converted to our spouses. The idea of ‘knowing’ our spouses depicted, as sex is deep. If you are a man, try knowing what it is to be a wife- submissive, loyal and dirty bond.

Understand how they behave and why they are the way they are. Your particular spouse is the suspect here. Learn them. Relate with them ‘according to knowledge.’

If the Bible says women are ‘weaker vessels,’ it doesn’t mean they don’t have strength or incapable. It only means that they are fragile and mistakes with them can be deadly.

So, know how to relate with your spouse, so that your prayers won’t be hindered.

When I taught children, I did many childish things. I learnt children psychology and communicated in their language. I didn’t expect them to know what I know. I told them only what they could really understand.

Answer their questions wisely. They would laugh, and yet learn. Do that to your spouse. Always testing and trying and rating will weaken the fun in your marriage.

Be a bit flexible. Accept your man. Know him, love him and understand him.

Our psychology really determines what we do.

Convert things for positive use. We all have two parts of us. Nothing in us is useless. We have the very nice, loving, honest person, and the other part we don’t usually express unless we are deeply scratched.

Convert the not too fine traits to enhance the fine person. That is what righteousness is about- channel actions and emotions rightly.

Sexual desire is good, but we need to channel it rightly. Too much talking can be a disaster, but we can correct it to good. We can brighten and liven up our homes with jokes and laughter and intelligent discussion.

Most of the bad things in us are actually good things used wrongly. That is what being born-again is about … it is just a conversion.

You can convert nagging into chatting and intelligent interaction. You can make bad things work for good. That is what the Bible says: “All things work together for good to them that love …”

Have you tried it? If you can bring laughter and peace to your home, you are in the right direction. Some food should not be eaten in a raw state. Cook them a bit, process them, remove the poison, be a new creature. I care!
-E. C. Samuel
intimatefaithministry@yahoo.com 08027173447