– Scripture:

Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. 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 favor—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 honor her husband.

                            Ephesians 5:21-33 MSG

– Reflection:

               Love and Marriage

“God didn’t give us expectations and roles within marriage to squelch our freedom”; He just wants us to know the way life works best. This passage about love, respect, and submission may not always align with contemporary thinking or modern practices, but we can be sure that the One who instituted marriage knows how to make it thrive. After reading this passage out loud together, discuss which part is the most challenging for you to understand or put into practice. Pray together that God will lead each of you to fulfill the role He has chosen for you in a way that brings glory to Him and honor to your spouse.

Where do we go from here?

The rules for marriage are simple if we follow how Jesus honored the Church. Jesus dedicated himself fully to the Church and set an example for others to follow. His actions were not about controlling or enslaving others; they were about demonstrating what his father had taught him to be in the world. Similarly, we are called to treat our spouses with the same dedication, and they are called to do the same for us. Both partners need to work on the relationship to make it better; there are no free passes. Some aspects of the relationship will be challenging, but these should be addressed first, in my opinion. Let’s get to work on it.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, please help us focus on you and one another. Give us wisdom regarding the sacrificial love needed in our marriages. Intervene in any areas of injustice, infidelity, and impurity. Help us to forgive, and as we process past hurts, help us to forgive again and again. Allow us to forgive and be forgiven as many times as needed. Amen.