Marriage is an ever evolving entity. As our lives change, so do our relationships. However, God has provided us with a diagram to guide us within the framework of this holy institution. He provided us with a blueprint for marriage.
Just like a contractor repeatedly studies the blueprint of the building he is constructing, we need to repeatedly return to the blueprint for marriage God presents to us.
We need to continue to study the blueprint, to review the lines, the measurements, and the instructions of how pieces of this union should be built within the framework.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do 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 their own body, but they feed and care for their body, 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.
Ephesians 5:21-33
As we reflect on love and marriage and relationships this month, what can we learn from this blueprint for marriage God has given us?
Christ is the foundation
Christ is inter-woven throughout these instructions on how to build the relationship between husband and wife.
out of reverence for Christ
as to the Lord
as Christ is the head of the church
now as the church submits to Christ
just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
Christ is the foundation. His relationship with the church is the example on which to base our marriage relationship.
Submission is an act of reverence
We women have heard the verse and, if we are being honest, we try to ignore it. It includes that ugly word “submission”. But, let’s take a step back and look at the verse that comes before it.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:21
At the core of all this is a mutual submission in all relationships, and this submission is done out of deep respect for Christ. Our “submission” to our husbands is not a sign of weakness or lower intelligence or less worth, but an act of deep respect for our Lord.
Don’t get me wrong. This does not say be a doormat, a punching bag, or a brainless follower; because what comes next is truly a great responsibility laid at the feet of our husbands.
Love requires sacrifice
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her… In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies…After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church…
Ephesians 5:25, 28-29
Christ loved us so much, He died for each one of us. He sacrificed Himself to make us holy and righteous and worthy to live with God forever. That same kind of sacrificial love is charged to our husbands. They are charged with the overwhelming responsibility of caring for us not only physically, but spiritually.
Marriage is a relationship of unity
In the beginning of creation, God knew that it was not good for man to be alone. He created woman to be a helper to man and sanctioned that “man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)
Marriage is designed to be an inseparable union. As husband and wife, you become a part of one another – an extension of yourself.
As with any relationship, your marriage will change as the years go by. Your marriage in 10 years will look different than it did on your first anniversary and it will look even more different 50 years down the road.
To keep this relationship strong, God gave us a blueprint for marriage. We just have to keep looking back at it to remind us of how it all fits together in the framework He created.
My post is part of a Valentine’s Collaboration with some of my new blogger friends. Be sure to check in with these ladies today for ideas on all things Valentine’s:
Brianne @ Homemade on Our Homestead
Jenny @ Yellow Rose Jenny – Romance vs Love
Amanda @ Cozy Tasty Home – Budget Friendly Valentine’s Dinner
Amy @ Essentially Handmade
Lyndsy @ Treasured Oak Springs – Salted Cashew Clusters Recipe
Rachael @ Australian Working Mama – Valentine’s Day on a Budget
Kelly @ The Willow Mama – Cream Cheese Pie Recipe
There will be even more great ideas tomorrow!
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