I heard a friend of mine talking about TV marriages some time ago. I did not pay much attention because I don't really watch much TV.
That has changed since Netflix has entered my life. Now, I am not sitting around watching TV shows 24/7. I do find, however, that once I start a show I must work through the series until I am finished with it.
My friend mentioned the husband and wife in Friday Night Lights. It's not a show I have watched, ever. Not that I am opposed to it, I have just never found time. Instead I find myself watching shows like Castle (no married couple...), Burn Notice (no married couple), Chuck (yes married couple, and decent, but not the main event), and Medium.
It's the last show I am interested in. The husband, Joe, is fantastic! He is everything that you would want him to be. He is strong, speaks his mind, supports his wife - even when she is going WAY out into left field - and raises his daughters in a loving yet firm way. I'm not saying they write him to be a perfect man. He is not. He gets angry, frustrated, acts selfishly (very occasionally), and does not always handle things in the best way. However with all that said, he is what I would want women to be looking for.
Yes, I said that. No, he is not a Christian, nor is he meant to be (on the show), but I find myself impressed by how he has been written. I am not saying that we need to go off and chase non-believers. not at all. Christ says that we should not do that, and I would not tell anyone to do that either. What I say is to look at who this man is. Look at his character. He is honest, trustworthy, intelligent, caring, a protector, and yet gentle when he needs to be. He speaks his mind to his partner and to others, and always supports his marriage.
If there is one thing I have learned, it is what a man of God looks like.
He is trustworthy.
He is gentle
He is strong
When there are questions, he goes to scripture.
He leads in prayer,
He knows how to lead others.
He allows people to make the mistakes they need to, does not judge when they go off the path, and is there to help them once they come back.
He points out where people are falling short of God's best in their life, and even where they are turning a blind eye to the Lord.
He has a personal relationship with Jesus and God that has nothing to do with anyone else. This allows him to do all the things above.
He also realizes that he is flawed. He knows that it is not him that does the things listed above, it is Christ through him that does this.
This man commits all his ways to the Lord, and trusts Him to provide in all circumstances.
Does this mean that you, oh friend, are not a Godly man? It is possible. However, I know someone who can help you with that, but you have to let Him. He will get in there, muck around and change things up so that you don't know which way you are going any more. That's a good thing! He is teaching you His ways, and His ways are not our ways.
Do I have a crush on this fictional character? Nope. Because I know that the best of what I like about him is where I see God shining through my computer screen.
Thank you God for worldly examples of what we CAN be.
Thank you God that Christians can always expect to find people who do not follow Christ that are more moral than we are (Tim Keller, Reason For God). They prove to us that our standing with God has nothing to do with merited behavior. We do not EARN anything. God chose us because he wanted to, not because I am "good" enough or perfect in my speech. He chose to give me life in Him, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
I love YOU Lord,
me
