Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her”.
The previous verse was the charge to the wives to submit to their husbands. It’s the husbands turn now. They are to love their wives. Most would say that they do, but Paul raises the bar and says to do it as Christ loved the church. How did He do that? He died for her.
That should lessen the anxiety the wives had been feeling about submission. She would want to submit to one who would give up his life for her.
Many guys like the bravado of dying for a cause. However, it’s harder to live in a sacrificial way. To do this, one sets his desires aside. It thinks about her needs and wants and anticipates them. It’s often the little things that she appreciates.
Jesus was amazing. He spent much time serving and being a blessing to others. He rarely sought out those to minister to. He served those who crossed His path. As we go through our day and a need arises, fill it.
The seventies brought on the woman’s movement. Much bitterness and suspicion towards men arose. The devil used this for much division. However, being a servant leader deflates that. Love is the conqueror.
Some guys can get overwhelmed by this. However, Jesus got His needs met. When He sensed it was time for solitude, He took it. Opportunities will arise to have fun. The wife of a loving husband wants him to get with his buddies and have fun. A team is being formed. The husband and wife. She gets so loved she wants him to get his time.
The longer we walk with Christ, the more we realize how amazing God is. He loves us so and blesses us constantly. We become christlike and want to be a blessing to others. The self becomes detestable. It wants more and more for itself. Like a parasite it draws off others to feed itself. This is the opposite of God.
John the Baptist’s disciples came to him and were jealous for him, because Jesus began to attract more people. John said this in John 3:29,30, “The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must increase; I must decrease.” As we walk with Christ, we gain the same attitude. We don’t want it to be about us. A line from Casting Crowns song Legacy says, “I don’t want to leave a legacy, I don’t care if they remember me. Only Jesus.” We want to be a blessing to others. Today’s verse tells us to love our wives. Love it.
Thank You, Lord for this verse and Your model. You have blessed us so. My wife and I are more in love now than ever. That’s You who has done it. I love her and she loves and respects me. Thank You!