Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Mutual Love & Respect: The Bond of Christ in Family

Bible Reading: :Ephesians 5:21-33

Key verse:  

"This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church" - Ephesians 5:32

DEVOTION

Love in marriage, and Biblical love in general, is not self-seeking.  It is about how much we are willing to give of ourselves for others; “as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (verse 25). Love is a choice.
In his book, The Meaning of Marriage, Tim Keller writes, “He loved us, not because we were lovely to Him, but to make us lovely”. When we accept Jesus as Lord of our lives, He begins the work of progressive sanctification.  The Holy Spirit conforms our thoughts, words and actions to those of Jesus.  Jesus set this example in His relationship with the church by “presenting [her] to Himself in splendor…[to] be holy and without blemish” (verse 27).  
Similarly, the purpose of marriage is to help each other become the new creations that God desires us to become through the work of His Spirit in us.  Husbands and wives need to see the work of sanctification that Jesus is doing in the life of their spouse.  Not only that, they must realize that they are active participants in that same work.  
This calling in Christian marriage runs counter-cultural to the “me-first” mentality of secular marriage.  The role of husband and wife, through mutual love and respect (verse 33), is to champion the sanctification of the other so that both may ultimately receive God’s admonition - “well done, good and faithful servants”

PRAYER

Father, thank you for Your Word which “equips us for every good work”, including marriage.  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

“Marriage is and always will be an earthly symbol of a heavenly truth.”  

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