Ephesians 5:21-33 – “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 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. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church– for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery–but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
The Apostle Paul writes to us about the profound nature of marriage – it is a mystery, but he’s really talking about Christ and the church. Marriage is a micro-image of the sacred union between Christ and the church. Husbands are instructed in how to be a type of Christ and women are taught how to be a type of the church. Men are to learn from the Great Lover of the church how to live sacrificially toward their wives. Wives are taught to submit to their husbands as they yield to them in the safety of their sacrificial Christlike love for them.
Christ’s return will mark the marriage of all marriages. The spiritual romance between Christ and the Church is the best source of inspiration we could find for a great marriage here below. Believers are pledged in marriage to Him and He is pledged to us. His return will mark the consumation of that sacred pledge. Even though earthly marriage ends when death parts us, if we both belong to Christ, our spiritual union will not only continue in heaven, it will be perfect and complete in Him.
This concept should change how we look at our present lives and marriage. It should cause us to consider whether or not we are more focused with our temporal (earthly) marriage or our forever relationship. What difference would it make if husband and wife treated each other like Christ’s sacred possession instead of “the old ball and chain?” In moments when you’re frustrated with your spouse you will find it transformational to focus more on your eternal relationship than your earthly marriage.
Compared with eternity, our life journey with our spouse is a very short period in our life. In marriage, the physical union of our bodies was intended to be an experience of the joy we will have when we are finally united with Christ at His return. This will mark the consumation of our spiritual marriage with Him. Again, these concepts ought to move us to a sacred consideration of our spouse as one who belongs to Christ forever!
Our spirit influences and directs our minds and bodies. We need to nurture and tend this part of our being more than any other. If our spirits make us pure, loving, faithful and true, we will be much better lovers. These attributes will bless our physical union with our spouse in the most profound way possible and will fulfill the plan for us to be a micro-model of Christ and the Church. A mystery indeed!
Thursday:
- Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
- Join our 6:00pm Thursday night prayer team.
Friday:
- Ask God to increase your understanding and appreciation of His design for marriage.
- Pray for the Good News families of the week: David & Sarah George (Nathanael, Rachael), Matt & Megan George (Nicole), Pete & Laurel George (Annabeth, Luke).
Saturday:
- If you are married, praise God for the sacred and precious gift of your spouse!
Sunday:
- Thank God for the gift of prayer. Go together to the House of Prayer!
- Join in with our Sunday prayer services to pray for God’s presence and blessing.
Monday:
- Ask God to strengthen your refusal to be influenced by the world’s models of marriage.
- Attend “In Touch” Prayer meeting at GNCC at 10:30am or join in prayer at that time.
Tuesday:
- Pray for a revival that honors God’s wonderful design and plan for marriage.
Wednesday:
- Ask God to remind you of your union with Him, and to think of your spouse as His possession too!