Love

DEVOTION
EPHESIANS
LOVE
Eph 5:25-33
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery — but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
NIV
There really is three whole teaching within these scriptures which I really should break down into three individual devotions but I cannot separate the verses from each other so I think I will treat each idea one at a time for three days, that way I can deal within my own heart with each idea separately.
The first of these is one thought, one concept, one frame of mind, one attitude of the heart, all wrapped up in the first four words. I must love my wife. Now even though there have been times my dear wife was not thrilled with my words when I explained to her I had decided to love her. I know it would seem the word love means a warm loving feeling of affection and sometimes express with hugs and kisses. Sometimes I think lust gets defined as love, but it is simply lust. No I really believe love is a decision of the will. I see no other way I could possibly be willing to give myself up for her. I see no other way I could treat her, as I am accustom to treating myself quite well. I remember Pastor T saying you fall in the mud, not in love. No I must love her so much I am willing to do anything which is for her benefit, not anything she wants, but anything for her benefit, for her well being, her spiritual and physical well being. That is my responsibility. Now do I fail? I think there have been times I have. I have been the husband God intends for me to be at all times. Why this is I am simply not sure, I know what is expected, I know how I am supposed to be, yet I fail to live up to the standard. Sure, there are times when I get it right, but it is the times I get it wrong that bother me. Am I too wrapped up in my own self at those times? Maybe that is the whole of the issue regarding many things. But even though Christ told me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow him, I still struggle with that self, that ugly self. Why can’t God just zap that self right out of me, but then I would not be me, I would be someone else I suppose, maybe a new form of me, but that is what has already happened and yet that old me just doesn’t want to give up. Well I do know I do love my wife and I am trying to get it right, it may take the rest of my life, but I am content with that. As long as I am aware, and working toward perfection I am moving in the right direction. I love my wife.