“And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ...For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body." Ephesians 5:21 & 25-30
Today’s devotional is for the guys... the married ones to be more precise... or those that this weekend may find themselves saying “I do” to a beautiful bride.
I encourage ladies to read this through as well...
Think back to the words you shared in your vows. More than likely, they included the familiar phrases... “in sickness and in health” or “through good times or bad” and ended with “till death do us part.”
Those vows are still in effect.
I talk to many men who tell me that they have a rough time with their wife because she “doesn’t understand” or is “too needy and emotional” or simply “won’t give me space.” I want to challenge you today to think back to that wedding day. You looked her in the eyes and told her that no matter what... you’d be there for her. If she needed a knight in shining armor... you’d find the perfect horse to ride in on. If she wanted a shoulder to cry on you’d offer both. Things got tough? You’d be tougher and provide security.
We didn’t get married to change our wives... we did so to celebrate the way they already are. Is your wife perfect? No. Are there differences between the two of you? Absolutely. But take a look at today’s verse... we are to love our wives like Christ loves His bride...the church!
Sacrifice, commitment, love, dedication, endurance, forgiveness, communication, trust... all given willingly... all provided without pretense or condition.
I know that when we are loving our wives in this way, the negative issues that come between ourselves and our spouse will decrease dramatically. When Christ is first and we are growing closer to God... we will, in turn, grow closer to each other.
I want to wrap up our time today with this story...
Richard Selzer, MD, tells of standing before a hospital bed where a young woman was recovering from surgery. Her mouth was twisted. A facial nerve connected to her mouth muscles had been severed, and her deformity was permanent. To remove a tumor in her cheek, the nerve had to be cut.
Her husband, also in the post-op room, stood on the opposite side of the bed. The young wife asked, “Will my mouth always be like this?” The reluctant answer was yes. She nodded silently.
But her husband smiled. “I like it” he said, “It’s cute.” He then bent down to kiss her crooked mouth, twisted his own lips to accommodate hers, to show her that their kiss still works. And the doctor remained silent, in awe, in the presence of this divine love.
That’s the kind of love I’m talking about. Unconditional and complete. This husband didn’t see brokenness...
He saw beauty.
That’s the way God sees your wife as well.
You won’t always understand her. The devil may tell you there’s better out there. You will get frustrated...challenged...and may feel at times like you should give up on your marriage.
Don’t. Just don’t.
Your wife is a daughter of the King of Kings... and there is nothing that you will face that can’t be mended through prayer, honest communication, trust, and a commitment to grow closer to God together.
Decide today to love your wife with that Christ-like level of love. Be flexible when life gets hard... be there for her when she doesn’t feel she’s at her best... and extend to her the same grace you receive from God daily. The whole world may be coming down on her, but be there... faithfully... guarding and honoring those vows you took all that time ago. Christ loves His church so much that He was willing to sacrifice His own life for it. It is my prayer that each of us that are married would be willing to do the same for the spouse God has blessed us with.
PS: Ladies... if you are unmarried and have read this far... don’t settle for a man unwilling to kiss a crooked smile. There are God-honoring men out there praying each night for you to arrive in their life (and they don’t even know your name yet).
Don’t settle. You are far too valuable for that.
This weekend, join us as we partner with couples who are getting hitched… and those renewing their vows. See the kind of love I wrote about today firsthand… rejoicing in the unions that God has brought together. It will be a historic wedding celebration that you won’t want to miss!
For times, locations, and more details check out our website at potentialchurch.com.
