The Husband - III

I encourage you to read the earlier posts before you read this one. (Husband - I) (Husband - II ) Paul continues his message by saying: husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. (Ephesians 5:28-29) 

One of the great mysteries about marriage is how the unity of man and woman in the flesh is a picture of how Christ and the Church are one in the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:31-32) After you get married and have sexual intercourse, you and your wife become one flesh. From that day on you begin a life-long covenant with your wife. (Malachi 2:14) That is why Paul was so against- sexual intercourse before marriage. He said: why would you take your body and unite it with a harlot? (1 Corinthians 6:15-16) 

If you have had sexual intercourse before marriage, this message is not to condemn you. God is gracious and merciful and He will forgive when you believe on Him.

Jesus said to the woman caught in the act of adultery,“Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:7-12)

Ok! Let us come back to the main message. When a man and woman come together they become one flesh. Because you are one flesh, Paul instructs you to love your wife just like you love your own body. 

The Bible says: you must CHERISH and NOURISH your wife's body just like you do your own. 

The Lord who is united with you is always thinking about your spiritual and physical nourishment. The Lord cherishes you so much that he is always thinking about what more he can do for you. He is always thinking about how he can give you more... He wants to see you more blessed, more happier, more prosperous, more strong, more wise and more like Jesus each day. 

Paul expects husbands to treat their wives similarly. It is a husband's responsibility to see that his wife is well fed spiritually and physically. Before you eat, you got to make sure that your wife has got enough food on her plate. If you have to, you let her serve herself first and then you serve yourself later. You are called to love your wife just like you love your own body.

Like Jesus CHERISHES the church, a husband should also CHERISH his wife. You should always be thinking about what more you can do for your wife. You should always want to give her more joy, more happiness and make her life more beautiful each day.