And today we have the last in Sean’s series on love, thanks Sean!
This is the final day that I will look at the love of God (agape).
Yesterday we looked at 1 Corinthians 13 which many couples use in wedding ceremonies though in context this is not what 1 Corinthians 13 is about.
However husbands and wives are important because they act out the analogy of the love between God and humanity.
One of the clearest and most distinct passages that show how a husband is to love a wife is found in Ephesians 5.I don’t know about you folk but up here religious men will keep wives “in check” by always bringing up the passage:
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord (Ephesians 5:22).
Mostly they forget what the rest of the passage says:
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones (Ephesians 5:26-30).
The husband is to put his wife first loving her as himself, serving and being willing to die for her.
As they say about the a bodyguard and security, a husband must be willing to take ‘a bullet’ for his wife
That simple means a husband must be willing to totally give himself to his wife as Christ Jesus gave Himself for the Church.
But this also means that a wife is to respect her husband, to be there and let him cherish and love her.
Now I’m not saying a wife has to accept abuse, lying and perversion but what I am saying is that if a marriage is well balanced then this passage in Ephesians is possible (I know this works for my wife and I).
Love, love, love; it is the answer to all ills and the love of God is prime.
Yes, the spiritual side is a mystery to us but like all mysteries this can be solved.
And as I sign off, love and grace to each and every one of you.
Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for loving me and thank you that I can love others as you love me”.
Ephesians 5 v 25…..Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it
Heilan Word Ministries 