If you are a woman reading this post, I’m glad you’re here. You can be a huge help!
Ladies, regardless of your current circumstances, healthy or unhealthy, positive or negative, “good” or “bad,” have you prayed or perhaps are praying for a partner that loves God, pursues Him and proves himself to be physically and emotionally trustworthy, as well as a loving, servant leader? Whatever, the reason, you find yourself reading this article; please hear the message of love and forgiveness instead of judgment and condemnation.
Husbands consider the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Components of Love
Patience
Kindness
Hope
Joy
Contentment
Endurance
Humility
Meekness
Consideration
Selflessness
Forgiveness
Rejoicing
Upholding
Trusting
Men, as husbands; you may be overwhelmed by such a list, but I encourage you to take a deeper look. Look at how you love, look at your heart; does it look similar to this list? We aren’t looking for perfection from each other; we are all called to the same love. The great thing is that this list is by no definition of our own, but God inspired and breathed.
Making a Heart Change
Husbands; your wives need you. Consider Ephesians 5:
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself…
More importantly, this is what we are called to do as husbands. God has given you the responsibility and honor to love well, to mutually complete your spouse, to mirror God’s character and holiness, and to multiply a Godly legacy. This isn’t a “fake it ‘till you make it” kind of love. This is heartfelt, genuine, authentic choice, day after day, unconditional, period!
Application
Maybe my words seem “harsh” or “unrealistic.” Though a seemingly “tall order” request, I hope the urgency and opportunity is at the forefront of this message. We, men are called to such a love that moves mountains. This is an honor! Take the opportunity today to love your wife. Use the divine definition in 1 Corinthians and the attitude and position in Ephesians. Still waiting for the love of your life? Men, pray for the individual that may come into your life. Pray that, when the time comes, you will be able to demonstrate such a love in a truly authentic way.
