S) "25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,"
Ephesians 5:25-26 (NASB)
O) This is a sneakily deep verse, I think. On the surface it seems simple enough - love your wife like Jesus loves His church... but then when Jesus' love is considered... there really is no measuring it. Specifically, the single marker is that He took the punishment for her. She mistreated Him, was guilty, filthy, worthless really, and He still valued her more than His own life. So, a husband's sacrifice for his wife should really know no bounds. It's hard to be selfless 100% of the time, but that's the love that is required of being a husband. The next line is equally important and the two go hand-in-hand. Defining exactly what it means to "cleanse her..." is kind of hard...
A) Here's what I know: the more I engage with my wife in spiritual disciplines, especially Bible study and prayer, the closer we are (not just how we feel, but how close we actually are). It's a given that I need to continually approach my marriage in humility and self-sacrifice, but I also need to continue making determined efforts to engage with her in disciplines that build up her faith, encourage her ministry, and strengthen her walk with God.
P) Father, my marriage is one of the most important things You've given me. I feel so blessed by my wife, and the marriage You've given us, that I really cannot express it, but I know You see my heart. I want to honor You and honor the gift that is my wife and marriage, with how I nurture my wife and tend our marriage, LORD. Holy Spirit, show me a successful discipline for strengthening my wife and show me what it means to sanctify, cleanse, and wash her. I know it's not as literal as it is with Jesus and the church, so reveal to me the most successful approach. Let me lead her in humility and grace, so that we are following You together, as a unified pair, as one flesh. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
A) Here's what I know: the more I engage with my wife in spiritual disciplines, especially Bible study and prayer, the closer we are (not just how we feel, but how close we actually are). It's a given that I need to continually approach my marriage in humility and self-sacrifice, but I also need to continue making determined efforts to engage with her in disciplines that build up her faith, encourage her ministry, and strengthen her walk with God.
P) Father, my marriage is one of the most important things You've given me. I feel so blessed by my wife, and the marriage You've given us, that I really cannot express it, but I know You see my heart. I want to honor You and honor the gift that is my wife and marriage, with how I nurture my wife and tend our marriage, LORD. Holy Spirit, show me a successful discipline for strengthening my wife and show me what it means to sanctify, cleanse, and wash her. I know it's not as literal as it is with Jesus and the church, so reveal to me the most successful approach. Let me lead her in humility and grace, so that we are following You together, as a unified pair, as one flesh. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment