A Magnolia's Heart Beats

Kim asks,

"How does is make you feel to know that God has designated you as the primary instrument to reflect His love for your spouse?"

What a question for reflection on how we are called to love our husbands!

Ephesians 5 has some great guidance for loving our husbands.

Before Paul starts his discussion on husbands and wives in verse 22, we are reminded in verse 1 to be imitators of God as Christ was. Our marriage mirrors (or should mirror) Christ and the Church.

I've written about submission in marriage before, but in answer to Kim's question, it makes me feel very humbled and priveleged. Just to know that I am called by God to reflect His love to Steve feels like a huge mantle to bear. It's not hard to love my husband. He's a great husband, father, friend and lover. But to know that I am the primary instrument of reflecting the Father's love? Kind of brings to mind doing all the excercises in the Love Dare book that accompanied the recent movie Fireproof.

I want to honor my husband and submit to him in the best ways possible. We have great guidance in Christ's example of love of the purest form.

As Steve's wife, some of the best ways I can think of to reflect God's love for Steve are by loving him as God loves him, being quick to mercy and grace in our marriage and slow to anger, submitting to him in all things, speak highly of him to others and build him up rather than tear him down, setting the example for other women to love their husbands the same way, pray for him continually, honoring him and loving him in my actions, words and deeds.

Truly it is an honor to be called by God to be that primary instrument to reflect God's love to Steve. Very humbling and a true privelege. I praise God that He has given me an easy man to love. Steve is a great guy. I really mean that. He's so kind and loving toward me that it really makes it easy to love him. Do we have our rocky moments? Um, yes, but this is not about that. I have my own rocky moments with God and He loves me, so the least I can do is reflect that same love with Steve.

L - Loving our husbands is something we're called to do.

O - Obeying them as we obey the Lord is easy when we are truly committed to each other. It is a sign of respect.

V - Verifying through God's Word that the things we do, say and think in our marriage makes it easier to act out that love.

E - Example-setting for other women is something we're called to do in Titus 2:3-5 (NIV).