Ephesians 5:25–33 (ESV) —
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
NOTE: This seems like an incredibly tall order. God gave a man (who marries), one person to love, cherish, and build up into a beautiful bride. How are we doing? If we are honest, most men should feel like failures because they care more for themselves than their wife. We are selfish. We are narcissistic. We are anything but like Jesus who sacrificially gave his life for the church. Do we even know our wives? What are their goals today? What do they want to see happen in the next five years? What are we doing to make those dreams realities.
I realize that this QT is addressed to men, not women. I think a serious take on these verses should be a wakeup call to all husbands. We were given a task by God for one and only one woman, how are we doing?
PONDER:
- How are we implementing these verses in our marriage?
PRAYER: Father, forgive me for not taking these things as seriously as I should. I pray for some good conversations in these next couple of weeks. I pray of opportunities to clearly express my love for my wife.
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