PART 33 : MARRIAGE

Ephesians 5: 22–33 “Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church — a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favour — since they’re already “one” in marriage.

No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become “one flesh.” This is a huge mystery, and I don’t pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honour her husband.”

(The Message)

Comment:

Our relationship with God is to impact our relationships with people. Paul reveals the impact it is to have on the most exclusive of relationships…marriage. However, in focusing in on marriage Paul reveals that marriage is actually a picture of a much greater more intimate relationship.

THIS IS ABOUT THAT.

The ‘this of marriage’ is about the ‘that of Jesus and us the church’.

Marriage speaks of the love that we now enjoy between us and Jesus.

How?

A husband pictures Jesus love for us (the church). A love that is characterised by…

…giving not getting

…making us whole

…causing us to become the best we can be

In-turn wives picture how we are to love Jesus as the church. Loving through…

…submitting to one who is after our best not after dominating or imposing himself on us.

Paul wants us to understand that marriage reminds us of the fact that Jesus is after our best, therefore we get to submit/to trust him with our lives.

For those who are married let’s…

…remember the privilege of the greater ‘that’ we get to reveal

…as husbands let’s love our wives as Jesus loves the church (that’s a pretty big call!) through seek to give not get, continually seeking her best

…as wives let’s love our husbands through submitting/trusting that they have our best at our heart

PAUSE…remember the ‘this of marriage’ points to the ‘that of Jesus and us the church’.

Question to ask yourself:

1. Do I truly believe Jesus is after my best? and if yes how does this need to shape my life?

2. For those who are married how will you seek to love as you are called to love today?