"It (our salvation experience) should determine every decision that we make...."
Like how will we treat our husbands? How will we honor them? How will we love them? How will we "do them good and not evil" all the days of our lives?
Sometimes the Amplified Bible helps in really "seeing" a passage. "...and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband - that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly." Ephesians 5:33b
Did you notice that this does not say "and let the wife..... if he is a Godly man/husband." It does not say "and let the wife....if he is doing what he needs to do." That is where we get off track so easily. We want to measure how we do - by how he is doing. If he is good to me - then I will be good to him...... and on, and on, and on.
Now, do not get me wrong, if I were writing or speaking to the men - it would be easy to tell them (and I have on many occasions) - that if the husband will love the wife like Christ loved the church his precious wife will have no trouble submitting to/loving him. But ladies that is not the topic today. Nor is it our responsibility to tell our husbands such. We are told to love our husbands. To respect and reverence him. To notice him and honor him. Now look at this next one - to prefer him. (think about that one for a while) To defer to him, praise him, love and admire him exceedingly.
When was the last time that you took the time to just admire YOUR husband. See him through the eyes that first attracted you to him. He is the same man. Have you told him lately what you admire about him? He needs your sincere praise. (SINCERE) Ask the Lord to help you to focus on being the wife that God has called you to be.
Ladies - love your husband. When you get your eyes off of what he is or is not doing - and focus on what you are called to do - it sets you free! Or maybe I should say that it keeps us so busy working on ourselves that we no longer have time to worry about his role. My role is more than enough for me to handle :)
I will end with a thought that I read in a book years ago and have tried to keep it fresh in my mind. "I am not my husband's personal Holy Spirit. My job is to make him happy. The Lord will make him holy."
(The picture is from July 2006 - Just a few days after our 30th anniversary)
Ponder those thoughts with me - and let me hear from you.
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4 years ago
5 comments:
This is so important. We just found out about an affair that a friend of Billy's had. We are shocked, hurt, angry, sad, and determined. It makes me all the more resolved to do all I can to honor and respect my husband and to make him happy. Satan will use any and every tiny little crack in our marriages to gain a foothold. Oh, how I pray that Billy and I will always remember to stand firm against the schemes of the enemy of our souls and to safeguard our marriage.
One of the biggest obstacles that can keep us from honoring our husbands is simply unresolved anger that has built up from hurt and frustation. But just as love is a choice we also have the choice not to respond in anger or to nurse a hurt which can fester into a huge sore in our marriages. It takes action on our parts to first of all pray for our husbands daily. Then pray for ourselves that God would enable us to honor our husbands as He has instructed us to do. Vicki
I'll admit it, I have the best husband around, so it's easy to honor him.:) What you said about seeing him through the eyes that first attracted you to him hits the nail on the head. Love is always a choice, and we choose whether to concentrate on the bad things or the good in our husbands. If you choose to concentrate on the good stuff, it's easy to stay in love. I love the quote about making him happy and letting God make him holy.
Yes, this is so right. I have been learning more and more since our wedding almost 14 months ago. My husband is wonderful but it's still a choice and work to love them no matter what. Thank you for this insight! I'm always praying for your family! I can't imagine how hard it is. I talk with my mom about you guys often. We love you and your family!
It's been a while since I've been to your blog, so I'm catching up. I really needed to hear this one! I especially love the comment you ended this post with - I have printed it out to remind myself of this! Thanks for your words of wisdom! Love, Lara
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