June 19 - Ephesians 5:27

“[Jesus] did this [gave himself

for the church] so that he could

present the church to himself –

like a bride in all her beauty,

with no stain or wrinkle”

Ephesians 5:27

^EXB

 

Did that passage make sense to you?

 

As we continue to look at the role of men in the family, let’s try a different translation (a joyful but powerful, Biblical paraphrase) …

 

Husbands, go all out

in your love for your wives,

exactly as Christ did for the church

—a love marked by giving, not getting.

Christ’s love makes the church whole.

His words evoke her beauty.

Everything he does and says is

designed to bring the best out of her,

dressing her in dazzling white silk,

radiant with holiness.

Ephesians 5:25-27

^MSG

 

That’s a faithful, evocative, Biblical paraphrase, but guys, that’d be worth hanging on your bathroom mirror!

 

Questions: Guys, this is definitely, primarily related to you (but wives, you could turn this around and evaluate the ways you show your love in your relationship too).

·         Do you “go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church”?

·         Is your “love marked by giving, not getting”?

·         Like “Christ’s love makes the church whole,” does your love make your wife whole?

·         Do your “words evoke her beauty”?

·         Is “everything [you] do and say … designed to bring the best out of her?”

·         Is it like your love lis “dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness”? 

Remember: Love is not a game of chicken-and-egg – who does what first. If you’re not loving in these ways, try to be more loving. (And see if your beloved doesn’t respond with more love of their own.)

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who needs to do

better at dating his wife,

evoking her beauty,

and dressing her in radiance