May 8, 2017
Ephesians 5:25-27 says, "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."
How many editorials have you read that say that Southern Baptists think a husband ought to be willing to die for his wife? Not many, I'm sure. They probably have focused more on the consensus that women are to submit to their husbands. But you see, that's only one side of the coin.
Husbands are to lay down their lives for their wives. Now, a husband may never be called to physically die for his wife, but God is calling every husband to die to his ego, pride, ambition, and anything else about himself that he places above his wife. How is he to love his wife? Passionately.
What do I mean by that? Well, I’m not talking about sexual passion, though that certainly is one of the gifts of marriage. But I am talking about a passion that says, “I am willing to die for you.”
When a man loves his wife passionately, there’s nothing too precious for that man to give up for his wife, except his relationship to Almighty God. And most women don’t mind being in submission to a man who loves her enough to die for her and shows it by the way he lives for her.
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”