For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. —Ephesians 5:31-32
God sanctioned and blessed only two institutions: the family and the church. He even used the marriage relationship to illustrate the relationship between Christ and the church, showing us the high value He places on marriage.
Ephesians 5 discusses in detail the way God intends marriage to be. A sanctified marriage is a harmonious union between a man and a woman who cherish each other and willingly give up their own self-interests on behalf of the other.
The church is the model for wives, submitting to their husbands just as the church follows the leadership of Christ. Jesus is the model for husbands, who are told to "love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (v. 25). Couples who commit to living out Ephesians 5 in their marriage are a living witness to all those around them. Make your commitment today!
Jesus, make our marriage holy. Sanctify us
as one in You. Give us the same love for
each other that You have for
the Church. Amen.
