Verse of the Day 7/3

Verse of the Day 7/23

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,    English Standard Version (ESV)

Our Pastor Tim spoke on this passage from Ephesians 5 in his message yesterday.  In today's society marriage, as in institution is in a state of decline, many choosing not to marry and others choosing to end their marriages in divorce.  The passage calls our attention to Jesus love for the church as an example to be shown between husband and wife in a marriage.

Pastor Greg Laurie writes, "Effectively, here is what God is saying: "Look at this Christian couple right here. See the way that husband loves his wife? That is how I love this church, My people. See how that wife loves her husband? That is how My church loves Me."  Would someone be able to say that about our marriages, our relation ship with our wives?  It is a model for us to follow.

In our small group Bible study we recently watched a video from Tim Keller which took a look at Matthew 5:14 which comes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  English Standard Version (ESV)

Christians and the church in general are to be visible, to be an example to the world around us and that applies to marriage as well.  It speaks of an alternative life style and Keller pointed out that it is to be neighbor loving and to be a transformed community of believers.  The same applies to our marriages as The Message states, displaying "a love marked by giving and not getting".

The points in Pastor Tim's message were - "respect well, love well, and commit well".  May that be said in our marriages and in our church.  If we apply that we may be that "light of the world, a city on a hill" to the point where the world around us takes notice.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Ephesians 5:25-28The Message (MSG)

^25-28 Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage.