Minding Your Menu:
Real Love – Part 1
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:22-31
Key Verse: Ephesians 5:32-33
This is a profound mystery–but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
When we first meet someone and are attracted to them, our conversations are cautious. As we continue to date, those conversations grow deeper and more real. Unfortunately, once married, a cycle can develop that ends up going back to the surface and cautious conversations. True intimacy is not obtained or maintained easily. It is much easier to fall back into our safe zones and never venture into the deeper areas again.
Our scripture for today focuses on the husband and wife relationship. It challenges a husband to love his wife, but only challenges a wife to respect her husband. It has been suggested that the reason for this is that love comes naturally for a woman and respect comes easily for men. God wants to get us to do the things that may not come naturally. A man must work hard at expressing love. A woman can express love without a thought, but learning to show respect will take some work for her.
Both men and women may take the surface path in trying to do relationships—it’s easier. But if we love our wives as Christ loved the church, as the apostle is challenging us to do, we must go deep! Christ loved His church by giving His very life. Christ loved His church by extending massive amounts of time and patience. Christ loved His church by being real and conversing about the relevant issues that truly mattered for daily life! Men love your wives like that!
Father, I don’t have the courage to love as you love. Please fill me with your strength. Grow me deep that I can live the abundant life! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.