CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 677

“I Love My Wife”

Eph 5:25-33 (ESV) Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.? In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body … let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Col 3:18-19 (ESV) Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
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The Christian Church is the Bride of Christ. Jesus gave Himself up in order to sanctify His bride and make her holy. The Bride of Christ must be pure through and through beginning at the cellular level which is the individual families that comprise the Christian Church.

The sanctification process and purity must begin at the family cellular level. This is why God’s Word exhorts husbands to love their wives ‘In the same way…’ as Jesus loves His church.

“Love is more than three words mumbled before bedtime. Love is sustained by action, a pattern of devotion in the things we do for each other every day.” – Nicholas Sparks

Giving ourselves up for her – Jesus died for His bride. Are we willing to ‘die little deaths’ for our wives? Are you willing to put down the newspaper or magazine in order to maintain eye contact and listen to her and engage in conversation with her? Are you willing to turn off the TV to do the same? Are you willing to set aside your agenda in order to address her ‘honey-do-list’ and deal with the things that are important to her? Are you willing to give up your desire for expensive ‘toys’ that you cannot afford in order to preserve the integrity and stability of family finances?

Sanctify her – Jesus is the Living Word of God, pure and holy. Do you keep yourself – your mind, heart, and soul – pure before God? Do you allow impurity to defile your home through internet pornography, and immoral TV, books and magazines? Do you keep your marriage bed pure? Does your wife have to wonder deep in the recesses of her heart if you have remained faithful and pure? Do you pray the Word of God over your wife, speaking blessings over her? Are you the spiritual leader of your home, its priest and pastor?

Expressions of love are much more than an annual Valentine’s Day card and box of chocolates. Expressions of true love are constant and continual. To love your wife is to see her through the eyes of Jesus Christ. To truly love your wife is to allow Christ’s love for her to manifest itself through you.

It is easy for wives to submit to a husband who is first submitted to Jesus Christ. Men, God has called and ordained you to be His faithful steward of your family. He expects you to be yielded and submitted to Him and in so doing to love your wives as He loves His church. The purity of His church stems from the purity of the individual families that comprise the church. Let this purity begin in your heart, mind and soul.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God.