The Husband's Cleansing Love for His Wife

Some of you may be wondering where my new posts have been? Non-existent, . . . obviously. But, let me get my feet wet again. 

Talking with two prayer partners, Gary and Dan Tuesday morning, Dan asked about Ephesians 5:26, " . . . having cleansed her by the washing of water by the word." You'll recollect that this passage teaches the dual responsibility/privilege of both God and husbands to serve their respective brides as a cleansing agent. We can understand (I think) how that would occur with God and his church. After all, we're familiar with such songs as, "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus." And this cleansing work continues throughout our earthly existence so that when we sin as Christians, if we confess those sins, Christ is faithful to forgive them and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Fine. And wonderful! But how do we husbands do this for our wives? Remember, the text in Ephesians 5 is a dual one, including both God and husbands. Since only Jesus can sanctify us and make us holy, husbands must accomplish this as surrogates of heaven. We can help our wives love God more, live more holy lives, and walk purely with both God and us. If we're to do this, then it is incumbent upon us to walk purely ourselves, hating sin and loving righteousness. Further, it is necessary for us to encourage our wives by our attendance to them, making it not only possible, but easy to pursue Christ. How might this happen? I cannot help but think that we must pray for and with them in a natural not rote or tedious way. Remember, we are doing this so that they will move seamlessly into that love relationship with God for which He created us. And this cannot be accomplished by reducing all acts of faith to adherence to a set of rules found in a manual somewhere. No, this kind of cleansing love must emanate from our hearts and produce a living, breathing yearning for our Lord.

I'm sure that there is much more to it than this, but this will ( I trust) move us in the right direction. I wonder if this "jives" with your idea of husband-hood?