On the day I celebrate my 37th anniversary and the week that I officiate Michael's wedding, I thought it relevant to remind myself (each of you) of God’s design and challenge to me (us) as husbands. Of all of these the most challenging is to love our wives as Christ loved the church — a sacrificial love that sets our rights aside (Philippians 2). Jesus loved us and died for us "while we were still sinners." A Christ-like marriage always begins with us, not our wives.
In Genesis and the gospels we find our call to “leave [our] father and mother and be united to [our] wife.”
Ephesians 5:
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives...
1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Colossians 3:19
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
May we love our wives well with the mind of Christ doing nothing out of selfish ambition and considering them more significant than ourselves (Philippians 2).
