‘For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body. As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” ‘ Ephesians 5:25-31(NLT)
God modeled human marriage after the relationship Christ has with us. Marriage is an illustration of the way God loves us—being totally committed to us, forgiving us, making us holy, spotless, and righteous through His sacrifice.
On their wedding day, a bride and groom look as radiant and perfect as they ever will. The groom is perfectly attired and awaits his bride’s entrance with great hope and great desire. The bride is flawlessly coiffed. She shines with adoration and expectancy. She is even becoming a different legal entity: her name will change.
However, after the name change and after the honeymoon, the couple will not appear as flawless to one another. So how can two imperfect people maintain the radiance? The Apostle Paul tells us how: the husband must cleanse his bride with the washing of the Word, so she can maintain the holy and blameless position of her wedding day. It is only through the Word of God that we enrich our understanding of God. As the husband and wife read the Bible together, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit will increase the Christ-likeness in both people. As each reflects Christ to the other, the radiance and beauty of Jesus will shine through, and the commitment, forgiveness, holiness, and righteousness will inspire many, many more honeymoons.
Pray for the intentional washing of the Word together and extended honeymoons inspired by sacrificial love for each other.
from Happy Marriage, Happy Home