“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Ephesians 5:25 (ESV)
I love my dog. I love my children. I love my car. I love my ipad. I love my ________ fill-in-the-blank. We use the word “love” so often to describe our feelings for so many things. What does it mean to say that we love our spouse? Does it mean that we love when we are loved back? Does it mean that we love when we get something in return? When the Bible teaches me as a husband to love my wife, it defines that love–“as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” That means my love for my wife should overflow with grace. That means my love for my wife should be completely self-sacrificial. That means my love for my wife should mean that I would give everything for her, even my own life. That kind of love is deep. That kind of love is strong. That kind of love does not waiver based on the weather or how I feel on a particular day. That’s a high bar-but one in which we must strive every day.
