Just For Men . . .

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

(Ephesians 5:25-28)

Ever sit under some great Bible teaching and think "Boy they could sure use that!" or "I can't wait to share that with_______." ? I know I have! many times we are quick to hear a word for someone else, but we find it hard to allow God's work to convict us personally. We are always more gentle when it comes to our own shortcomings! But guys, this is about you and me!

This word is just for men! Forget reading about the wives or the children guys . . . this is for us! Paul is specific in these few words of Ephesians5 and 6 to speak to wives, husbands and children. So let's pay particular attention to our part alone: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church . . .

These are challenging words indeed and humbling to the point of embarrassment . . . at least for me. We say we love our wives and would literally die for them, but Christ pleads for us to live for them as well! Just as Christ came as a sacrifice for each of us, we as the leaders of our families are to live in such a way that all that we do is for the best interests of our spouse. She is to be our focus, not "me"! All our prayers, all our plans, all our desires . . . should be to first honor our wives and be able to cover them from evil. If we can get to such a point in our walk and allow God to take care of the rest, imagine the joy we will experience!

Listen to Peter (a married man by the way):

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

(1Peter 3:7)

It is not that wives are any less a person or weaker in faith, but we as men are called to lead in every aspect of married life . . .to be accountable! This begins with our relationship to our Father! Our prayer life reflects our relationship with God and family. To better know our wives, we have to be intimate with God as well. After all, He created marriage! But on the other hand, if we are not right with our spouse, we cannot be right with God.

Men, it is time to get right. Single guys, do not even consider marriage until God is your first and primary love. Married men, it is God first! It is wife next . . . then kids. We . . . are last on the to-do list! Leave us to God. Besides, a good wife will never reject a Godly man.