Christ-like Love: A Husband's Divine Calling

Ephesians 5:25-33

In the tapestry of human relationships, few are as intricate and profound as the bond between husband and wife. Yet, in our modern world, the true essence of marital love often gets obscured by fleeting emotions and self-centered desires. Today, we embark on a journey to rediscover the divine blueprint for husbands, exploring a love that transcends mere feeling – a love that mirrors the very heart of Christ.

The Command That Changes Everything

At the core of this exploration lies a simple yet revolutionary command: "Husbands, love your wives." But this isn't just any love. It's a love that sets an impossibly high standard – "as Christ loved the church." At first glance, this mandate might seem overwhelming. How can any man love with the same depth and sacrifice as the Son of God?

Yet, herein lies the beauty of God's wisdom. He never commands without empowering. The key to fulfilling this lofty calling is found in being "filled with the Spirit." This isn't a one-time event but a continual state of yielding to God's presence and power. It's through this divine infilling that husbands can access the supernatural ability to love beyond their human limitations.

The Radical Nature of Christian Love

To truly grasp the weight of this command, we must understand the cultural context in which it was first given. In the ancient Greco-Roman world, wives were often seen as little more than property, valued primarily for producing heirs and managing the household. Against this backdrop, the call for husbands to love their wives sacrificially was nothing short of revolutionary.

Even today, in our supposedly enlightened age, this biblical standard of love remains radical. It challenges the prevailing winds of selfishness and calls men to a higher purpose in their marriages.

Love Defined: Beyond Feelings to Faithful Action

But what exactly does this Christ-like love look like in practice? It's far more than warm fuzzy feelings or grand romantic gestures. Biblical love is "a self-sacrificing, caring commitment that shows itself in seeking the highest good of the one loved." It's love in action, demonstrated through daily choices to put one's wife before oneself.

This love is:

1. Sacrificial: Just as Christ gave himself for the church, husbands are called to lay down their lives – their preferences, comforts, and desires – for the sake of their wives
2. Sanctifying: Christ's love purifies and elevates the church. Similarly, a husband's love should nurture his wife's spiritual growth, creating an environment where she can flourish in godliness.
3. Cherishing: As one cares for their own body, so a husband should tenderly care for his wife, attentive to her needs and well-being.
4. Unifying: Marriage creates a mystical oneness, reflecting the profound union between Christ and His church. Husbands must guard and cultivate this unity, allowing nothing to come between them and their wives.

The Journey from Selfishness to Sacrificial Love

The greatest enemy of this divine love is selfishness. It's the cancer that eats away at marriages, destroying intimacy and eroding trust. The path to true love requires a daily dying to self, a continual choice to put the needs and desires of one's wife above one's own.

This journey is beautifully illustrated in the story of a husband who, convicted by God's Word, decided to spend his entire vacation loving his wife selflessly. He resisted the urge to pursue his own interests, instead choosing activities that brought her joy. By the end of the trip, his wife was so moved by the change that she feared he must have received terrible news about her health! Little did she know, he had simply begun to truly live out God's calling for husbands.

The Power of Choice in Love

One of the most liberating truths about biblical love is that it's fundamentally a choice. While feelings may fluctuate, true love is an act of the will. This means that even when romantic emotions cool or conflicts arise, a husband can choose to love his wife as Christ loves the church.

This choice to love is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who produces the fruit of love in our lives. It's no coincidence that the qualities of love described in 1 Corinthians 13 mirror the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. When we're filled with the Spirit, we're equipped to love as God loves.

A Call to Action

As we reflect on this divine calling for husbands, let's not be content with mere knowledge. The true test of understanding is in the application. Here are some practical steps for husbands to take:

1. Seek daily filling of the Holy Spirit through prayer and surrender.
2. Regularly ask yourself, "Am I treating my wife the way Christ treats His church?"
3. Look for ways to sacrificially serve your wife, putting her needs before your own.
4. Invest in your wife's spiritual growth through shared prayer, Bible study, and worship.
5. Guard your marriage against anything that might threaten your unity.

Remember, this journey of love is not about perfection but progression. It's about daily choosing to love, even when it's difficult, trusting that God will continue to transform you into the image of His Son.

A love like this has the power to not only transform marriages but to be a powerful witness to the world of Christ's love for His church. As husbands embrace this calling, they participate in a sacred dance of love that reflects the very heart of God.

May we all – husbands and wives alike – be inspired to pursue this radical, transformative love in our relationships. For in doing so, we not only find the fulfillment of God's design for marriage but also experience a glimpse of the divine love that holds the universe together.