Last week I wrote about a phrase that caught my attention while praying: Life-threatening Devotion. I discussed a lot of scriptural examples of men whose devotion to God was stronger than their love of life and how that kind of devotion should effect our lives. The more I thought about it, the more I saw areas of my own life where I need to practice life-threatening devotion to God.
Devotion to God as a husband
I realized I need to more closely follow Christ’s example of life-threatening devotion in my marriage:
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. Ephesians 5:25-28**
It’s hard to put myself aside for my wife, to do whatever it takes for her to be perfect. But Christ’s example is clear.
Men, does your love for your wife threaten your life? Do you stop what you’re doing (lay down your life) to edify her with the word of God? Do you consider her (present her to yourself) a glorious wife? Does she look clean and wrinkle-free in your heart, even in her old age? Do you think of her as set apart for God’s glory (holy and perfect)? Do you enjoy eating her favorite meals and watching her favorite movies (love her more than you love your own body)? Do you get great satisfaction from helping her (love her as you love yourself)?
I should consider it a great pleasure to die to myself for Lynn, but I cannot say that I do. Whenever I pray “Your will be done,” I have to remember that His will is for me to have life-threatening devotion to Him for Lynn.
Devotion to God as a wife
Wives, how about you? Would you rather die than disrespect your husband? Is your conduct encouraging him serve God?
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel — rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 1 Peter 3:1-6
Life-threatening devotion to God
How much will our lives feel threatened if we simply do what Christ calls us to do in our marriages? That may be a real challenge because some of us think the purpose of marriage is to make us happy. The real purpose of marriage is to spiritually mature us. 1
Life-threatening devotion to God will effect our marriages. The question should never be “Do I love my spouse enough?” It should always be “Do I love God enough to love my spouse with His love?”
We included a chapter about the redeemed marriage in our first book, Families from the Beginning. Sign up for our newsletter to read it.
The Story Farm is getting closer to publication. I am incorporating the last edits. It should be available on Amazon soon. More information will come out on the blog and in our newsletter.
By His calling, in His strength,
Dean
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1 Dr . Leo Godzich, “Is God in Your Marriage?” National Association of
Marriage Enhancement.
