Welcome!
Today: When family makes sense
Passage: Eph 5
28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body (Eph 5, NIV)-emphasis added
Christian marriage is a sacred thing. It is not a sacrament just like Baptism or Holy communion, but it is not very far from that!
Baptism is identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Rom 6)
Holy Communion (Lords’ supper) is to rememeber the Lord’s sacrifice for us and to remind us that we are one family, memebers of one body (1 Cor 11:23-32)
Holy Matrimony (marriage) is symbolic of the marriage of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His precious bride-the true Church
So, Holy matrimony has its own importance in God’s eyes.
We hear and see lot of bad things happening around us, from many families…..like how you hear/see fireworks. The firework comes up in all the bright colors, but then it goes off when it come to the top, with a loud noise.
In the verses above, Paul asks husbands to love their spouses like their own body and like how Christ loves the Church (in the previous verses)
Can anyone love their spouse like how Christ loved the Church?
Even Apostle Paul would not have said “yes” if he was married!
Only Christ can love that way
But then, why is it stated so? Isn’t the Bible impractical then?
Not at all! It is a model, a yardstick, which we all must try to reach/attain
That is a goal, we have to set for us
Paul also emphasises two words in there: “feed and care”
“Feeding” is more than just bringing some money home; it is an attitude, more than an action. It is about seeking the well-being of the family. I will explain..
Look at a mother feeding her child and baby sitter doing the same. Both actions look similar, but there is a difference is in the attitude; one is getting “paid” to do that, while the other (mother) does it out of love!
“Caring” is self-expalnatory. A sense of belonging is behind caring
If you are married, do you belong to each other? If so, how much?
I am not talking about being possessive and over-controlling each other
“Belonging to each other” is respecting the individual freedom, yet caring for each other. With God’s help, we can!
Have a blessed day!
BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me so much. Help me to love others, especially those in my family, the same way. With your help, I can. Amen
“In the family, it is more about how we do things, than what we do ”