“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the lord the church.” Eph. 5:28-29
Today’s Christian daily devotional
“Are you cold?” An older gentleman takes off his leather coat and drapes it tenderly on the shoulders of his love.
He automatically kisses the top of her head as if it is a tradition. She leans into him and closes her eyes in quiet expectation of it. Watching them interact is like enjoying a cherry on top of a beautiful cake.
Turning to my husband, I squeeze his hand and kiss his cheek.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” He smiles warmly as he stirs his Starbucks. Eating up the attention like a lap dog.
“See those two?” I motion with my head to the darling couple in the corner.
John looks at me with a tinge of confusion. He missed the beautiful moment that I was fortunate enough to see.
“We will be like that one day.” The thought of getting older no longer looms over me like a doomsday prophecy. It now looks like a gorgeous progression of trust and love.
My eyes continue to follow the couple out of the coffee shop. He opens the door for her as if she is the Queen of England and proceeds to do the same as they approach their car. Her adoration is displayed by the relaxed smile on her face. Her lines are gentle and calm, not harsh or hard like most women her age. I imagine this can only be the result of a lifetime of being treated like royalty.
As their car pulls away from the coffee shop, my voyeuristic imagination is forced to think about my own life. For years, whenever I would read Ephesians 5:28-29, my heart had a hard time envisioning a man that could love a woman more than himself. I had never experienced that kind of love before; so I became uncertain of its existence.
But, a man that truly lives to honor God will take the words of God very seriously. This can only benefit the woman in his life, as God has supplied a wonderful guidebook on relationships. In fact, relationships is what most of the Bible is about.
If you’re struggling in your relationships, let me challenge you to use the word of God as your guide. It will not only guide you, but also supply the support you need to give you the confidence that you are not navigating this life on your own. You’ve got help. God is at your fingertips.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
I would be a fool to think that I have relationships, people and my own temperament totally figured out.
I am so thankful that you have not left us alone in this life to just “figure it out”. You have given us some very clear instructions on how to have a good life in the Bible.
I regret that I have turned from the wisdom of it because of my own pride. I wanted to figure out my life for myself.
Since then I have come to terms with how little I actually know and how much I need to learn. I am ready now.
I want to have a good marriage built on a solid foundation that will last the full measure of the lifetime commitment I made at our marriage alter.
In the name of Jesus, I ask that you bless my husband and I. Please take us to the next level of love and commitment to each other. As we serve each other, we will be showing our appreciation to the God who blessed us with our union to begin with. Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verses: Ephesians 5:28-29
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan