The Wednesday Word 8.03.2023

 Ephesians 5:25–27 NLT

25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

 

Jesus gave everything in this world for you and me. He left behind family and friends, comforts and familiar surroundings to begin his ministry. Even unto a horrible death, Jesus lived his earthly life all to bring God’s love and mercy to us. Paul is telling us in these verses that the same dedication is a model for marriage. When you choose a partner your priorities change. Your friends and family and old familiar ways no longer take precedence. They are still a special part of you, but the new partner now comes first. A new way of life is created, a new family, even if it is only made up of two people. These two individuals will come together bearing every old “spot or wrinkle or any other blemish” that they developed on their own. With the same love that Christ showed to us, especially with the “cleansing of God’s word,” this new partnership can not only grow and bless each other, but bring love and joy to all those around them. 

 

The same care can be brought to any other type of relationship. Genuine consideration and respect can elevate your friendships, even your workplace, to a whole different level. It is carrying Jesus with us into these relationships that will bring blessings all around…something to pray about.

 

Don’t forget to look for the Lord today. Vicki H.


                                                                                                            photo by Jason Leung

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