Bible Verse: ‘For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave up his life for her.’ Ephesians 5:25
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:21-33, 1 Peter 3:7-8
Have you ever had a petty argument with your wife about something that didn’t matter?
I remember one time, where I sure did. I am not sure what the details of the argument were now at this point other than I was right and she was wrong. Well, that is my side of the story anyway…
Unfortunately, we did not resolve it very well at the time and unfortunately for us it was in the middle of a 25-hour drive across Canada, so we spent a lot of time in complete silence. It was not fun, and I am not proud of it.
I continue to be on a journey of surrendering to Jesus in my marriage relationship, but this is another opportunity that married men can grow in the art of surrender as we daily take up our cross and follow him.
I too easily get caught up in the details of being right and beyond that a stubbornness that refuses ownership of the ways that I have wronged my wife during disagreements.
I can try to use the excuse of waiting for her to do the right thing instead of surrendering to Jesus in what he is calling me to do. The verse today draws us into what it means to love our wives well. As we follow Jesus' example, it is about surrendering our lives for our wives, not trying to hold on and protect ourselves.
Ultimately, loving my wife well has more to do with my relationship with Jesus than it does with her. How she loves me does not change what I am called to do. Jesus laid down his life for me and my response is to do the same. If I need to repent of my actions to my wife and own my mistakes, then that is what I need to do. I do this for Jesus and I do it because I want to love my wife well.
How is Jesus calling you to surrender your life in your marriage or other relationships?
