Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage. – Ephesians 5:25-28
Christ’s love for the church was not predicated on her perfection. On her meeting His needs. On her serving Him or even on her obedience. No…the bride of Christ, the Church He willingly died for to bring her into radiant glory, was loved perfectly by its Creator even before the foundation of the world.
The Church is a flawed and at times ugly bride for sure. We don’t have to look very far back in history to see her black eyes and sins draping the annuls of history. But still, knowing all her faults ahead of His sacrifice, Christ chose her and chose a horrific death to pay for those sins.
And this is important in the mindset of marriage! When the Bible says to love your wives as Christ loved the church….as He willingly sacrificed Himself for her…even knowing ahead of time all the wrong she would do…this is what He means!
Think about the doubters and haters you know who like to throw horrid church history in your face.
Like the fact that the church killed over 40,000 people (80% women) in witch trials over the span of several hundred years. Or the crusades–where scripture was twisted and popes were promising salvation to those who would fight. How about the practice of indulgences where people would quite literally have to pay for their own sin? What about the Inquisition, where faith was put on trial and thousands were executed? The fact is that the church has had some real blunders. Some terrible mistakes.
Some of these errors cost lives– and lots of them. Yet Christ still sees her as a beauty worthy of His sacrificial death and instead He chooses only to look at her good, her wonderful works of love.
And let me tell you husbands— if you’ll choose to look the same way at your wife– focusing on all the good she does, loving her despite her obvious faults and mistakes, and continually cover over her sins with your love and prayers— still living sacrificially despite whatever bumps in the marriage you may be experiencing– you will continuously win the heart of your bride. She will automatically grow in respect and admiration of you. She will become the bold winner of life at your side because she knows your love is unfailing. She’ll know your commitment to her, despite the failings she may have wrought, is unwavering. And that makes for an awesome wife and an incredible life together as the one flesh He intended.
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Amanda says
Beautiful!
Michelle says
What a wonderful vision….love your Godly view, Lyette!
chrisTopher says
This is a great message for all men to hear. It is easy for us to complain and even get frustrated or upset when we arrive home from work and things are not in the perfect order we expect. If we behave like Christ as solid men of God it wont matter what else happens around us.
Lyette Reback says
That sounds like a man who really knows how to love his woman! Great job Christopher…