Lyle's Blog

In the fifth chapter of Ephesians women are told how to treat their husbands and husbands are told how to treat their wives. There is not just a little controversy over the wives instruction to submit to their husbands. Men are supposed to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. If a husband truly obeyed this command then his wife would have little trouble understanding submission. Christ came not to be served but to give himself as a sacrifice for the church. In like manner husbands are to give their wives the unquestionable love that Christ gave the church. He had compassion on their problems; he continually assured them of the permanence of his commitment to it. With the Word of God we are to wash her, which is to study scripture together so our one flesh is saved. The Bible tells us elsewhere that the wife is the glory of the husband. The church is to become glorious to Christ meaning that his humble and sacrificial life was well spent, for Christ’s reward is the souls of mankind. If we love ourselves (and we do) then we are to nourish (build up) and cherish (keep a loving eye on) our wife. For as the church is the body of Christ our wives are our body. We are one flesh. Her salvation is just as important as our own. One thing to note is that there is no condition on love. Love is defined in first Corinthians thirteen which I won’t elaborate on in this writing but suffice it to say that there is no self in love and kindness. Our wives have short-comings just as we do and if we both fell short in the same areas we would understand each other better. But it’s not important to understand everything but forgive each other as Christ forgives us and knowing that the only thing of value in this life is the salvation of our souls. So let us help each other so we don’t stumble and if we fall to help each other get back up. So submitting to perfect love is easy if the one you’re submitting loves you the same way Christ loves us. We just have to become better lovers.