Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by the word, that 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. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the LORD does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. Ephesians 5: 25-30, NKJV.
Gracious God, we thank You for teaching us how to live together in unity. Please descend in our midst and bless our study. In the name of Jesus we humbly pray. Amen.
As we continue with the topic of caring for our relationships we come to a place where our words will play a very important part. Words are extremely important in every aspect of a relationship, but I believe, that in the study of empowering each other, we cannot say too much about the importance of our words. Because our words can work both ways – to build up or tear down; to create or destroy; to empower of weaken; we are going to direct our conversation toward the positive outcome that we would like to see. According to one of my favorite anonymous sayings, we are going to “Celebrate more of what [we] want to see.”
I believe that this is a good place to clarify that even though the emphasis seems to be on taking care of wives, the advice goes both ways, “Men be good to your wives.” “Wives be good to your husbands.” Now we are ready to continue! Let us observe the nature of the advice that the apostle offers to husbands:
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for her” Notice that it is not just any kind of love, that he is recommending that husbands have for their wives. He is appealing to them to have the highest quality of love possible, a Christlike love! A love that is willing to make any necessary sacrifice for the beloved. What a “high calling!” What would you be willing to sacrifice for your wife? Perhaps some quality time, just to be with her? While you are considering that, add a little quantity to it!
“[T]hat He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by the word, that 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.” How do you and your wife spend your time together? I believe that if we thought about our time together as “fun times;” as “building times;” as “moments of empowerment;” we would look forward to spending more time together. How about calling a “time out” from quarrels and faultfinding. What if, before our time together, we made a mental list of all the positive things we are going to say to each other, and then just spend the time anointing each other! This anointing can be in the form of sincere, words of appreciation. Let her know that you feel blessed that she chose you, to spend the rest of her life with. Tell him that you are grateful for the way he has taken care of you; how he has made you feel special with his love! It can also be in the form of prayer. In your time together, take some moments to pray for one another. Call each other’s name in prayer. Lift one another before the Mercy Seat. Then, relive some of your funniest memories. Laugh heartily! Become childish for a few moments. Play a game together. Just enjoy each another!
Now Mabel, “What does the “sanctifying,” and “cleansing,” and “washing,” and “presenting faultless,” have to do with what you just described? I’ll tell you. I truly believe, that more people are going to be saved in the kingdom of God because someone showed them a positive face of Christianity. I further believe that the home is one of the most fertile fields for a Christ-centered evangelism. I earnestly believe, that we, by our kindness to each other, can encourage one another to continue growing in grace, until we see Jesus (sanctification). I believe, that our words, endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit, can do a work of “cleansing,” and “washing,” that is better than any “Fuller’s soap.” I also believe, that there are more people who are going to be ” ‘loved’, into the kingdom,” than, ” ‘indoctrinated’, into the kingdom” (present faultless), by the love expressed in words, and as families gather around the altar and pray for each other. So let the love, and the cleansing, and the empowering, begin – at home!