² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3

I recently heard that the divorce rate is decreasing in the United States. I had a hard time believing that knowing the state of the family in this nation. So, I did a little research. I found that the divorce rate in the United States is indeed down. There is approximately a 40% divorce rate in the United States, according to the last census. Previously, it was almost 50%, so it is definitely down. But, before we all begin to celebrate, we need to consider that the number of people cohabiting and not getting married has increased! This just further supports the breakdown of the family.

Wives are called to respect their husbands in the biblical relationship that God designed. “However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:33. Outside of the biblical framework of marriage, we don’t typically see a lot of respect in relationships anymore particularly from a wife to her husband.

In the marriage that God designed, husbands are to love their wives the way that Jesus loves the church. “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Ephesians 5:25. Christ died for the church. This kind of love is supernatural and impossible, apart from Jesus.

Of course, wives would respect and submit to their husbands a lot easier if they were being loved the way that Jesus loves the church. And, of course, husbands would love their wives the way Jesus loves the church if His wife respected Him the way that she was called to.

But, what if a wife’s husband doesn’t even know the Lord? She doesn’t get a free pass to disrespect him. “Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,” 1 Peter 3:1. This verse says that the way a wife loves her husband can be used by God to help her lost husband to see and desire a relationship with Christ!  That is a powerful testimony!

God also calls older women to teach younger women how to love their husbands and children. ³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ and so train the young women to love their husbands and children.” Titus 2:3-4. If we aren’t loving our husbands the way the scripture calls us to, how can we do as we are commanded and teach these things to younger women?

People are drawn to Christ by the biblical model of our marriage. The love that they see exchanged between us and our spouse draws them to Jesus. Is our marriage God’s model? Or does it look more like the kind of marriage the world models? When our marriage resembles the world’s model, we should love the way that we are called to love (and the way that Jesus loves) and see how our spouse responds. And, we should pray! Pray that God will make your marriage a picture of the gospel.

For someone not married who has read this blog today, you may think that there was nothing in this for you. Jesus wants me to remind you that He loves you more completely than any earthly husband ever could. I encourage you to study Jesus’ love for you more deeply. You are His beloved!

I pray that we (those of us who are married) would be convicted to love our spouses more deeply. Father help us to remember that “We love because he first loved us.” 1 john 4:1. Please help us to be loving, caring, and kind to our spouses the way that our Lord was to us while we were yet sinners. We have been called to follow in our Savior’s footsteps and, Father, I pray that when people look at the way that we love our spouses, they would see the way that Jesus loves us and be drawn to Him. ” For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21.

If Jesus Christ is not your personal Lord and Savior I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. Jesus loves you, even though you don’t yet know Him. He gave His life so that He could have a relationship with you. Please pray the prayer outlined there.

Once you have prayed that prayer, please reach out to me and let me know so. I’d love to be in prayer for you.

Luv Ya!