SAVE THE WHALES vs. MARRIAGE
Marriage can be very challenging during difficult times.
Do you ever show sudden violent emotions at your spouse?
1Cor.13:5 “…Love…is not easily provoked…”
The word “provoke”, means to poke, to prick or stick with a sharp instrument.
Do you cause your spouse to be upset?
A person who provokes, continues to do it till the recipient responses aggressively.
Do you easily fly off the handle?
In 1Cor.13:5, Paul is referring to a sinful anger that is never provoked in someone who has supernatural love.
Are you willing to endure insults from your spouse without reacting?
Prov.14:17 “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.”
CASE AND POINT: I have never deliberately tried to make anyone mad in my life, however, I have made people mad at me at different intervals. This happened once when we were on an outreach. There was a table full of literature on “save the whales.” There was a man and woman taking care of the display. As I approached the woman, I told her that was a good cause, but that I hope she puts just as much effort into saving the “unborn child.” She reacted in a way that totally startled me, and the gentleman whom she was working with. She gave out a scream like a “wild banshee”, she gave a demonic look into my eyes, then leaped I don’t know how many feet into the air, over the table and aimed at my head. I backed up just in time for her to miss me. She hit the ground and looked disoriented. The guy yelled at her and asked her what she was doing. She was speechless and looked like she couldn’t believe how she behaved. I knew that my questioning about abortion had provoked the enemy. The people standing by her ran to get away from her.
Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit by being provoked or by provoking others.
You and I can’t do anything on our own strength.
Jesus’ life in us enables us to manifest his agape (love).
It is easy to be irritated with a spouse that is just plain annoying.
Remember that it is a sin to be provoked and it is not showing love.
Moses did not enter the promise land because he became provoked with the people of Israel (Num.20:2-11).
Don’t miss out on your promise land.
Don’t end up with a marriage full of regrets because you chose to be “easily provoked.”
Let it go and bathe yourself in Gods word and Gods love.
NOTE: Tomorrows post will have new insights for a successful marriage.
LOVE YOUR SPOUSE 
So true!! Many women see anger as “strength”, I will not allow anyone to mess with me type thing. But anger is weakness, anyone can rock our world at will, all they have to do is get us mad! When we are easily provoked we give others so much power over our person! Great blog, thank you, keep up the great work!!
Hi Maria! Thanks for your great comment. Especially the mention of our world being rocked. Thank God for His precious Holy Spirit in our life! Love you!
Wow on your case and point. I have provoked people in the fwy for not going over 65 mph on the carpool lane and I have learned to not get offended and upset (which takes alot of self-control) after they give me their evil wave and name calling. The number one reason is I have GOD’s love and that is far more important than a person having a bad morning for running late, second is that my kids are always with me and I do not want them to even notice what that driver did or said to me and of course I don’t want them to see mom getting offended by every little thing. This blog is a great reminder that living without being offended and not provoking anger in others, just makes life a lot easier.
Hi Gabby! Loved your post! Good for you to not react to people who are acting crazy. Keep that Christian testimony! Love you.