Such a simple commandment, yet filled with richness, challenge, and fullness of life.
Make no mistake about it… I do. Love my wife, that is. I really, really do – with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my being.
But I don’t always communicate love. I don’t always demonstrate my love with my actions, or with my tone, or with my priorities, or with my thoughts, or with my words.
And I know – in my heart at least – that this commandment from God is Deep; like all of His commandments. This one little directive – issued by God twice (Ephesians 5:25, and Colossians 3:19) – is beyond just advice for happy living. It is beyond meaning “for your sake”, and beyond meaning “for her sake”, but includes meaning “for My sake” – in other words – it is not a transparent, surface level thing to do, or to think, or to act, etc. – for God sees even in the dark. He knows our innermost being; our thoughts; our desires.
To love our wives, as God intends, means to really love them. Inwardly as well as outwardly. Without exception, without compromise, without substitution, without weakness, and without ceasing.
This is my greatest challenge. And my greatest failing.
God, help me to be the husband you want me to be, and the husband Barb needs me to be. Help me to lead her, according to your commands and your will, in submission to you, and as her servant. Help me to not delegate or relinquish my role in her life – intentionally or otherwise. Help me to never lord over her. Help me to never flaunt any gift you’ve given me to her; and help me to never diminish any gift you’ve given her. Help me to learn, according to your ways, and according to her needs, how to honor this command – indeed, how to honor her and in such a way that she knows she is honored and loved. And let my eyes, my heart, my mind never wander.
