Reconnecting with the Love of Your Life
Ephesians 5:21-33 NLT
10/13/2013
I remember our remarriage counseling session.
Two points:
A simplistic diagram
& statement form the pastors wife "sex is important"
That was it. Sum total of our preparation for marriage. It is a wonder we survived.
But I want to tell you that though that pastor and wife didn't do anywhere near enough to help us prepare, the simplistic diagram, it was true.
RECONNECTING WITH GOD RECONNECTS ME WITH THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.
Ephesians 5:21-33 NLT
And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word. 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. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.
As the Scriptures say, "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Reconnecting with God. . .
I. I am reminded of how precious marriage is.
Sometimes things we once valued lose their worth.
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word.
When I connect with Gold I am reminded of how precious the church is to Jesus.
* Reconnecting with God reminds me how fortunate I am to have wife at my side. Ask any lonely single man out there. Ask any lonely single woman. This thing we call marriage is precious and reconnecting with me reminds me of that.
* Reconnecting with God reminds me that this marriage thing with all its challenges and foibles and pitfalls, is an incredible gift worth coveting and protecting.
The world has often giving us skewed ideas of this relationship we have with our spouses.
Reconnecting with God reminds me that my spouse, my wife is a precious gift in my life.
Reconnecting with God. . .
II. I am reminded of my role in this relationship.
Mutual Submission
And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
For Me
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.
For Her
and the wife must respect her husband.
10 Steps Towards Respecting Your Husband
1. Pray for him daily and trust God to answer your requests.
o Pray for his well-being, wisdom, protection, blessings, guidance, knowledge, spiritual maturity, success, purity, strength in temptation, etc.
o Look for God's answers to your prayers.
o Thank God for working in your family.
o Thank God for your husband.
o Pray for your attitude.
2. Make a list of your husband's qualities that you appreciate. Review and add to your list regularly.
3. Tell your husband what you appreciate about him. Tell others what you appreciate about him. Don't criticize your husband to others -- especially your children.
4. Look for the positive side of things that you may find irritating. If you find it boring when he spends time telling you about his bad day, remember that at least he is talking to you, spending time with you, sharing his concerns with you, bringing you into his confidence, and giving you the chance to be an encourager and helper.
5. Respond to his loving advances with enthusiasm.
Reconnecting with God. . .
I am reminded of what TRUE love looks like. Whether you are married or single, reconnecting with God, connects us with the clearest and most powerful example of love. CHRIST himself.
He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word. 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. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.
* Because he loves her, the wife becomes more.
* He presents himself in sacrifice, pours himself out for her.
* My fulfillment is found there.
When you Reconnect with God
A. Expect to be challenged by how much God loves and respond
B. Expect God to want to deal with your relationships (especially marriage or dating relationships)
