Love Your Wife as Christ Loves You

Husbands, love your wife as Christ loves you, sacrificially unto death. There is nothing more important than the vibrancy and sanctity of the marriage union.

June's Message, Day 18:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:25-28,31,33 NIV

The New Testament frequently speaks metaphorically about the marriage between Christ, the groom, and the church, His bride. All believers from the time of Christ onward are part of the church. There is no greater love than that which Christ sacrificially gave of His life for us. In the same way, husbands, you are to unconditionally and sacrificially love your wife. That means putting her and her needs first, caring for, respecting and honoring, and loving her so deeply, more than yourself, so as to willing give up your life for her if need be. That's Christ's love for us, and husbands, Jesus expects no less from you toward your spouse. So husbands, here is the hierarchy in the expression of your love: God first, wife second, self third, children forth, then all other family members and others. There is nothing more sacred than the marriage union and commitment to each other, surpassing your responsibility to your children. Couples often put children ahead of the marriage union to the detriment of the marriage. This is understandable, but couples, if your marriage is in turmoil so too, will be your children. Husbands, if your hierarchy is amiss, you need to get it right. This is God's expectation, your responsibility, and if not in order, your relationships will always go awry.