Letting Go Of The Remote

I remember well the day we wed

I can see that picture in my head

I still believe the words we said

Forever will ring true

Love is certain, Love is kind

Love is yours and love is mine

But it isn't something that we find

It's something that we do

Clint Black

As gruff and independent as men like to make themselves out to be, when it comes to women we want to believe we can romance them and win them with our charm. We give flowers and pickup lines, we have swagger and fancy dinners, but often what we consider love is as empty as a forgotten promise. We don't fall in love or have love. Love is something that we do.

In maintaining the high call of unity in the Church, the Aposltle Paul illustrates what kind of interaction we are to have by how husbands and wives submit to one another. Wives are to voluntarily place themselves under the influence of their husbands in everything, and Men are to love their wives.

On the surface it sounds like husbands have it much easier, but that is not the case. It is possible for the wife to submit without love, but the husband cannot love without submitting his wellbeing to the wellbeing of his wife.

When a husband loves his wife like Christ loved the church he sacrifices for her benefit. That doesn't mean that he gives in to her every demand, but when he acts it is always with her mind. Also, husbands are to love their wives like their own bodies.

I have some friends who are body builders and they work out endlessly to sculpt their muscles. That takes a lot of discipline to eat right, to work through the pain, and to chose a routine that requires strength and focus. Apply that to your wife. We are to love her by providing for her physical needs, work through the pain that comes through living together, and choosing activities that bring you together and build you up.

Love isn't about compromise, it is about sacrifice. It's little things like letting go of the remote, and big things like letting go of "your rights".

Husbands we know how to love because God us given us an example in Christ. He gave his life for a sinful bride. He didn't wait until she was perfect to love her, he allowed his love to perfect her. He gave the church the bread of life (the word) to nourish and sustain her. He gave the Holy Spirit to fill her and be with her always. 

In like manner we are to take a bullet for our wives, protect their dignity, encourage them, build them up in front of others, and serve them. We are to provide for their physical and emotional needs. And we are to be there for them in mind and body. 

Gentlemen, what wife wouldn't want to submit to a man like that? It is the ideal and we will fail, but it is our responsibility in Christ to love our wives like Christ loved the Church. Now, go and ask your wife how she is feeling. I'm just saying..

Ephesians 5:25-30 "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church...In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies."