Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John 4:11

Wang Guiying is Chinese.

Wang Guiying is looking for a husband.

With more than a billion people living in that country, that's hardly news. There are a lot of Chinese women looking for a husband.

What makes Wang Guiying's story unique is she is starting to look for a husband at the age of 107. Born the child of a salt merchant, Wang grew up watching uncles and other men scold their wives and beat them. She grew accustomed to finding her aunt crying in the woodshed after she was beaten.

Little wonder Wang Guiying decided to avoid getting married. She's made a good run at the single life, too. Sadly, with her nieces and nephews getting on in years, she can no longer count on them to take care of her. As a result, Wang is looking to get hitched.

I wish her luck, and I'm sure you do, too.

Having told that story, this devotion could go a number of ways. We could quote Paul who told the church at Colossae that husbands are to love their wives. It's good advice. If that had happened a century ago in China, Wang's life might be different.

Instead, I would prefer to encourage Christians to lead a Christian life. Now, that's a natural thing for us to do. We have been redeemed by the Savior, and we want to give thanks.

But there's another reason we should live as best we can. People are watching what we do and listening to what we say. Indeed, they are influenced by our examples. The bad example of men kept Wang Guiying from getting married for many years.

I don't want my bad example to keep anyone away from his or her Savior. As the song says, "They'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love."

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I am still a sinner who stumbles and falls. Today I pray You will keep me from those sins, but most importantly keep me on Your path when my failings might turn someone against You. In Your Name, I ask it. Amen.


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In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Job 34-35    Matthew 14:22-36

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