Sign up for our free newsletter:

Key Bible Verses: Each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband (Ephesians 5:33). Bonus Reading: Romans 15:5-6

The heart and art of marriage boils down to love and respect. Paul assigns one directive predominantly to each partner: husband—love your wife; wife—respect your husband. His instructions point out our inherent weaknesses as men and women—where we need Jesus the most.

It's not too difficult for me to find ways to respect Megan. The bigger challenge for me is to love her, to relate to her with my whole person. Loving her means not always trying to fix her or make sense of her emotions. Likewise, while there's plenty Megan loves about me, her test is to respect me even when I make bad decisions, lash out at the kids, or struggle with work.

God knew what we needed when he offered these distinct instructions. Love frees women to respect others and obey God. Respect strengthens men to lead and love humbly. But here's the catch: You can't make your wife get her act together. Don't force her to respect you; love her in a new way, according to the gospel in your life. Wives shouldn't harangue their husbands to love them, but respect them in a new way. As we do this, we'll see transformation in our own hearts first, then in our marriages.

—Craig Dunham in TwentySomeone

My Response: How would my wife like me to love her today?

Thought to Apply: If you work at love, you will find love at work. —PETER JACKSON (New Zealand film director)

Adapted from TwentySomeone (WaterBrook, 2003) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Lord, give me a resolve to relate to my wife with Your kind of love.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter    RSS Feed   RSS Help