Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Ephesians 5:28-30

28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 because we are members of his body.

Questions to consider:
  • How should husbands love their wives?
  • How is the image/metaphor of a body helpful here?
  • Why does Christ tend and care for the church?
Possibilities for prayer:

It seems that this image of the body continues to be helpful! It is easy to understand why a person generally does not fail to take care of his or her own body--such behavior can lead to illness or even death. So then, we can understand why Christ cares for the church and desires good things for it as well. The author calls husbands to a great kind of love; again, the kind of love that Christ has for the church. Even if you are not (or not yet) a husband or a wife, these verses are an encouraging glimpse of the way that Christ loves us, the members of his body. Let's take some time to ask God to continue to reveal to us the depth and extent of the love given to the church, and for the ability to receive it with open arms.