Husbands, are you willing to take up the authority Christ gives you? Then submit to His authority and learn His lessons of love. Find in your marriage your best opportunity to imitate Christ and “live a life of love” (Ephesians 5:2).
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.… In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church…. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband (Ephesians 5:25,28-29,33).
To love one’s wife is natural and proper. But God demands of husbands a much higher love, a supernatural love, like the Son’s love at the cross. This command leaves no room for bargaining. There is no “if.” The husband is in no position to say, “I will love my wife if she is sweet and good, or young and pretty.” Does Jesus love us only in moments when we seem loveable? The truth is, Christ “gave Himself up” while we were sinners and enemies.15 God be praised, Christ loves us even now, when we are unlovely and unworthy!16 He is gracious and patient with us, helping us with our many weaknesses. He expects no less of us in our relationships, and especially in marriage, the closest of human relationships.17
15. Romans 5:6-10 cf. Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 1:21-22
16. Unworthy: Luke 17:10; 3:16; 7:7; James 3:2; 1 John 1:8; 1 Timothy 1:15 with 1 Corinthians 15:9
17. Marriage: Genesis 2:18-25; Malachi 2:14-15; Matthew 5:32; 1 Corinthians 7:4,33-34; Hebrews 13:4