The things that we are going to speak about in this post are divinely inspired instructions for Husbands. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
One of the main messages of the Gospel that Paul preached was the New creation. When you put your faith in Christ, you are united with Lord and made one Spirit with Him. (1 Corinthians 6:17) From that day forth, Jesus is in you and you are in Jesus. (1 John 4:17) This is called the born-again experience. (John 3:5-8) The Bible message to the Husbands is not like other self-help messages out there. It is not a bunch of do(s) and don't(s). It is rather a Revelation of who you are in Christ. (Ephesians 1:17) When you see yourself as one with Jesus, you will begin to walk and talk like Him and that is exactly what I expect this post to bring about. (Ephesian 4:11-13)
In the book of Ephesians, Paul begins his instructions to Husbands by saying: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. (Ephesians 5:25) I heard a preacher once say: The Bible does not ask you to love your wife. I totally agree with Him!
It says: Love your wife as Christ loves the Church. There is a difference! The love of Christ for the church is different from our human understanding of love. (Read: Love 101)
To love like Christ, you must first understand that you are one with Him. As a born-again Christian, the Bible says: the love of God has been poured into your heart. (Romans 5:5) You will also read in the Bible that one of the fruits of the Spirit is Love. (Galatians 5:22) You are called to renew your mind to the fact that you are one with Jesus. The time has come beloved to put on Christ and put off the old Nature. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.... Put on the Lord Jesus Christ... (Romans 13:11-14)
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another... But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (Colossians 3:12-14)
The love of Christ is Unconditional and Sacrificial. When the Bible tells you to love your wife like Christ loves the Church, it is telling you to live out the love that is inside of you. When God loved you, he did not do it because you were lovely. He did it because it is His Nature. (1 John 4:16) To love unconditionally is more than a feeling. It is a decision. Because you are one with Christ, Love is your Nature and you can therefore love your wife unconditionally. In simple words your wife does not have to give you a reason to love her.
I heard about a husband who once told his wife: You do not need to give me a reason to love you. I love you because it is my Nature and I have taken a decision to do it all the days of my life.
You must love your wife because it is your Nature and do it until death do you both apart.
The Sacrificial part of Christ's Love is about you dying to yourself and living for your wife. The Bible says: Christ gave himself up for the Church. (Ephesians 5:25). The day you get married you die! Your life and your decisions from that day forth must centre around God first and then your wife. It is no longer about you.
Lets say your wife wants to go to the park in the evening and you want sit and watch the football game. Dying to yourself simply means you do what your wife wants and what is best for her and not what you want and what is best for you.
I love it!!!! Specially the part where you say you do what your wife wants and not what you want!!! Perfect!! Hehe ..but its a good article!!! I'm waiting for more posts!!!
ReplyDeleteBenny Fernandez August 15, 2012 3.15 pm
ReplyDeleteWell written! If only husbands could be the husband this article portrays, the family would be
a unit of love, understanding, joy and peace where HIS Kingdom would be here on earth.
Keep up this good work for His Kingdom and you be blessed!