27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. – Ephesians 5:27 – 28

I went back to read the verses preceding these, and found the passage flows – ‘Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…to present her to himself as a radiant church…’ 

These verses make me think of two things – the beauty of Christ’s sacrifice and His love for the Church, and the incredible responsibility of husbands. 

Jesus loved and served the church so completely and so sacrificially, for her perfection, beauty and radiance. This is the ultimate wedding of all time, the ultimate love story – Christ and His bride, Jesus and His people. 

And the growth of a wife in Jesus is ultimately the work of God, but husbands are to be humble partners in developing her beauty. The call of a husband is clear – in sanctifying love, wives are to be more like Christ because she is married to her husband.  

Lord, may everyone in the church fall more in love with You because of who You are and what You did for us. And we pray for the husbands in the church, that Your Spirit may fuel them to love their wives as You love the church, for Your glory. 

David Lather – Creek Road Campus