January 22, 2017
Ephesians 5:25-27 exhorts, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
Do you know what the word “love” means? It is the agape form of love that Christ has for the church. It is a non‑conditional love. Did you know that God loves you unconditionally, and that’s the way you’re to love your mate? Unconditionally.
If your wife feels like you are loving her “conditionally,” the first attitude she’ll develop is going to be one of fear. “I must keep up the conditions that produce love.” She’ll say to herself, “If I don’t do these things, I’m going to be rejected.”
Don’t get the idea because you are the head of the home that you are to make your wife do something. Has Jesus Christ ever made you do anything? Has He ever made you pray? Has He ever made you give? Has he ever made you witness? He’s never made you do one thing. Yet who is the head of the church? Jesus Christ.
It is not the husband’s job to force his wife into submission. It is his job to lead and love her in such a way that he assumes responsibility. A godly husband leads by love.
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