Ephesians 5:25-26

In the Greco-Roman world, marriage was seen as more of a social contract instead of a loving relationship. This mindset from Paul challenges this by making love the priority in a marriage. Paul describes the love of a marriage as a selfless, sacrificial love. It sets a high standards people in a marriage, calling them to commit to their wives as Christ did for the greater church. Christ’s love for the church was unconditional, sacrificial, and eternal. A love that seeks the well-being and spiritual growth of the church. Husbands should seek the well-being of their wives, ensuring that they are taken care of and have the ability to grow when possible. Christ committed the ultimate sacrifice by dying on the cross for the sins of humanity. Husbands are called to give themselves up, to prioritize their wives needs and well-being above their own. It’s a call to action to ensure that husbands embody a love that is active and self-giving.

The love of Christ for the church is the standard for marital love. Spouses need to study and emulate Christ’s humility, service, and unconditional love. We also, especially in our current U.S. historical context today, that this is more encompassing than the husband-wife marriage dynamic. There are different types of marriages that exist today because there are different types of humans with different types of sexual orientations that are in a happily committed relationship. You will hear me generalize this more to “spouse” than “husband/wives” to ensure that this teaching is reached to all people. Spouses should ensure that their significant others are taken care of. That they have a place to grow and feel safe. To know that someone is there to help them, be there for them, and fight for them when times get difficult. To be able to sacrifice their luxuries for the benefit and greater good to strengthening a relationship. It’s an equal partnership, allowing each spouse to use their gifts that God gave to them to create an equal yoke in the relationship.

To have a husband sanctify her wife is to make something holy or set it apart for a sacred purpose. Sanctification emphasizes the transformation and purification of believers. In the Old Testament, sanctification involved rituals and sacrifices. In the New Testament, it’s a spiritual process accomplished through Christ’s sacrifice. In the ancient world, cleansing rituals were common. They involve water as a symbol of purification. We see this imagery come to fruition through baptism – a rite of initiation and purification in Christian faith. It represents the washing away of sins and the beginning of a new life in Christ. Water also highlights the use of renewing work of the Holy Spirit. Finding that renewal through the word refers to how the message of the Gospel and the Scripture can transform our hearts and minds. Through God’s teaching, we’re taught, challenged, corrected, and trained by his righteousness.

Engaging with God’s word regularly is key for spiritual growth and cleansing. It’s a way to understand what works and does not work as a follower of Christ. There are some things we do in life that does not feel like they’re wrong or harming us, but they could be harming how we view and prioritize God. Things that could dishonor God or indirectly cause us to disrespect his creation. God word is meant to reflect our lives to see if it’s a pure reflection (a holy reflection) or if there are some things that we need to do to make sure we are getting it right.

Next slice of manna; Manna for the Mind #229