What does it mean to love your wife like Christ loves the church? : Baptist Bible Hour

What does it mean to love your wife like Christ loves the church?

Posted by: Justin on November 12, 2009

At our last men’s prayer breakfast at our church, I shared the following devotion. I share it with you in hopes that all husbands everywhere might be stirred up to, or renewed in, their determination to love their wives with Christ-reflecting purity and power:

“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…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 5:25-30

Love – “Husbands, love your wives”

• May seem like this goes without saying, but definitely does not.
• Do you love your wife? In word only, or in deed? What loving deeds have you done this week?
• Going to work can be an act of love, but is not necessarily. Mowing the lawn may be a service of love, but not necessarily.
• When was the last time you did more than just service projects, but carefully thought out and executed a romantic, enjoyable (for her!) moment with her?
• Have you actively fostered a spiritual, emotional, and physical attachment to her and appreciation for her?

Sacrifice – Jesus “gave himself for” His bride

• Could you describe your actions toward your wife as “sacrificial”?
• Do you give up your own pleasure, time, energy, interests to help and please her?

Leadership – “that He might present it” (responsibility)

• You are a steward of your home, your marriage, your children
• Jesus will give a perfect account for those put under His care
• What kind of account will you give for those put under you care?
• You cannot make them follow, but you can lead them in the right way.

Service – Jesus nourishes and cherishes His bride

• Do you nourish your wife? Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually?
• Do you cherish your wife? “Keep her warm” from cold blasts of the world?

Faithfulness – love your wife as you love your own body

• Regardless of ways you may wish to change your body, you love it, you nurture it, you feed it, you strive to please it—we are all by nature hedonists.
• Do you give the same singleminded attention and effort to your wife?

As of 2003, there were 1.3 million pornographic websites; 260 million pages. Total pornography revenue for 2006: $13.3 billion in the U.S.; $97 billion worldwide. More than 70% of men from 18 to 34 visit a pornographic site in a typical month.

Sanctifying Influence – “that He might sanctify and cleanse”

• Are you the primary sanctifying influence in the home? Or does she have to turn off the TV, initiate family devotions, suggest visiting/helping others.
• Which of you reads your Bible more? Which of you spends more time in prayer?
• Which of you is more careful to guard the eyes/ears/hearts of your children?

Pleasure – “He that loveth his wife loveth himself”

• There is nothing better for you than pouring yourself into your marriage

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