{"id":460,"date":"2010-08-24T22:09:45","date_gmt":"2010-08-25T04:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/iamanoffering.com\/blog\/?p=460"},"modified":"2011-03-10T20:50:31","modified_gmt":"2011-03-11T02:50:31","slug":"love-your-wife-as-christ-loved-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iamanoffering.com\/blog\/love-your-wife-as-christ-loved-church\/","title":{"rendered":"How to be an Offering – Love Your Wife as Christ Loved the Church"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Sketch<\/a><\/p>\n

Living a life of worship expects of us that we give up ourselves and our selfish desires in every area of life. \u00a0After being married to my amazing wife for a little over seven years now, I know that I have tended to be selfish in our marriage many, many times. \u00a0What does God’s Word say about how I can be a living sacrifice in my marriage?<\/p>\n

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,\u00a0that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,\u00a0so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.\u00a0In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.\u00a0For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,\u00a0because we are members of his body.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The above passage from Ephesians 5: 25-29<\/a> is so profound. \u00a0Jesus “gave himself up for” the church. \u00a0Do we give ourselves up for our brides? \u00a0Do we let go of our selfish desires in order to love her above all? \u00a0I have been so guilty of not doing that very thing. \u00a0Do we “nourish and cherish” our wives as we do our own flesh? \u00a0Perhaps we cherish often, but truly nourish, both physically and <\/strong>spiritually? \u00a0If you do nourish her in both ways how can you do it better? \u00a0If you don’t how can you start? \u00a0Perhaps you’re like me and seldom prayed with your wife apart from meal times. \u00a0Now is the perfect time to decide to pray whenever and wherever.<\/p>\n

If we, as worship leaders, are called to reveal God’s truths to those who come to worship corporately and magnify His greatness, helping those we lead to see a more accurate picture of who He is our lives must reflect His character as well. \u00a0We must, especially as husbands, be like God in His amazing sacrifice of “giving himself up for” the church. \u00a0Your wife is worth even more than that.<\/p>\n

I’ve struggled in this area, have you? \u00a0Would you pray for me as I desire to live my life as a living sacrifice to God by giving up my pride and selfishness in my marriage?<\/p>\n

(heart illustration from Jeremy Newton<\/a>)<\/p>\n