Theme of the Week: Real Men Love, Cherish and Value All Women
Bible Verse: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.” Ephesians 5:25-26
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:22-32
When people read Ephesians 5, they often focus on what Paul’s command to women to submit to their husbands. Submission is a scary word!
It’s important to notice, though, that Paul spends most of his time focused on husbands, not wives. He never tells the husband to demand submission. That’s not our role. Our role is to love our wives. Paul sets the standard high: we should love them as Jesus loved the church. We should be prepared to lay down our lives in service to our wives.
I’ve seen marriages that are a battleground. Each is trying to defend themselves against the other. I’ve also seen marriages like what Paul describes: in which women voluntarily give themselves to their husbands, and in which the husbands lay down their lives in service to their wives. When you see the latter, it’s a beautiful thing.
Husbands: God has not called us to demand anything of our wives. That’s not our place. God has called us to lay down our lives to serve our wives.
While this passage primarily addresses our marriage, I believe it’s a good principle to follow in general. Don’t expect to be served. Lay down your life for the good of others. Treat others, including women, by looking for ways to serve and love.
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