Something worth posting for a change
Ephesians 5:22-33, New King James Version
Marriage--Christ and the Church
"22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."
And so we can see that the contention that it is wrong or unfair for women to submit to their husbands is completely without merit. For if a man follows the word of God, he will be to his wife as Christ is to His church. Christ loves His church beyond measure and beyond reason, laying his life down for her when she did not deserve it, did nothing to earn it, and could never haved lived without His sacrifice. So it should be in corporeal marriage; a man doing everything in his power and even beyond his power, to at least attempt it, in order to honor God's commands. The only reason for contention would be if a man were not doing for his bride as Christ did for His bride. If a man does these things, loves his wife as he loves himself, loves his own wife as he loves his own body, loves his wife as Christ loves us, then his wife will have no choice, no option, but to respect and honor him in reciprocation.
I am the first to admit that I fall short of loving Bly as Christ loves His church. When I should be going out of my way to do the little things around the house and the big things elsewhere, I am lazy and forgetful. I need reminding and urging. My actions indict me. My actions convict me. I do not live up to God's will for me as a husband. I complain and put off doing the dishes. I wait for Bly to ask me to finish projects again and again before they get done. Even little things such as emptying the dish washer cause me to stumble in my own selfishness. Even little things such as vacuuming the den cause me to falter.
Husbands, go out of your way to help your wives around the house. Go out of your way to ensure that their needs are met. Go out of your way to ensure that they are taken care of physically, mentally, emotionally, and most of all spiritually. Never put yourself before your wife. Never put your own comfort in front of hers. Never fall into the trap that the world has laid for us. It's a trap of selfishness and deceit. It's a trap that tells us to come home and turn on the TV while we wait for dinner. It's a trap that tells us that it's enough to earn money and provide for the family financially. Get off your couches and cook dinner for your wives, or better yet with your wives. Turn off the TV and talk to your wives. Spend time with your wives. Joke with your wives. Dance with your wives. Explore your wives. Sing with your wives. Rejoice with your wives. Make love to your wives. Hug your wives. Kiss your wives. Pray with your wives. Bathe with your wives. Do chores with your wives. Cry with your wives. Laugh with your wives. Take walks with your wives. Worship with your wives. How can we be right and good husbands if we don't?
In my heart and in my mind, I know I love Bly in just this exact way. I pray that my actions and attitude reflect what's in my heart henceforth and forevermore. Amen.
More to come.
posted by Russell @ 10:48 PM
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