I started out looking at the golden instructions to husbands in the books of 1Peter 3 and Ephesians 5.
I will like to focus on Ephesians for the purpose of today's study.
Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless. Even so husbands should and are morally obligated to love their own wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own body, but [instead] he nourishes and protects and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, F or this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined [and be faithfully devoted] to his wife , and the two shall become one flesh . This mystery [of two becoming one] is great; but I am speaking with reference to [the relationship of] Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5:25 - 29 , 31 - 32 AMP
Husbands are instructed to:
1. Have an understanding and live with understanding about their wives.
That connotes the husbands must study their wives
2. The understanding must be with great gentleness and tactics, wisdom.
They are not to be careless with their wives. In thoughts, words, and actions.
Talking about how to handle their wives.
3. Husbands are to show honor and respect to their wives recognizing that they are as much a major player in the success of the marriage covenant.
You treat her like a doormat, your marriage cannot fulfill its purpose. You make her feel unimportant, you will struggle through life.
You treat her harshly, the help she is meant to contribute to your life is withdrawn.
You intimidate her, she shrinks back from offering her beat.
4. Not treating your wife well can block your blessing, It can block your heavens from releasing its blessings over your life and marriage.
God seems to be protecting the wives because of the subordinating role she plays in the marriage.
Leadership for husbands is not by dominating, oppressing, or coercion, it is by gently loving her with tact and understanding.
It is wielding the role as a husband with such intelligence that God gives. That is both gentle, giving honor to the wife and both being in control.
Husbands everywhere need God's wisdom and help if their marriage will fulfill heaven's mandate 100%.
It is to be noted that as the husband takes this position, it becomes easier for the wife to fully submit herself and treat the husband as the king he is. However, the wives must still function as a wife despite the husband's fault or failure to fulfill his responsibilities.
In conclusion, the husbands, as well as the wives, need a lot of maturity and wisdom that comes from God. They both have to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The marriage has to be saturated with the Holy Spirit by which they can both function in the areas of the calling.
May the Lord grant us more understanding.
God bless our marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY
My marriage is blessed
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord, teach me how to love my wife
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
1Pet 3:7 (ESV)Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY
Treat your wife well
BIBLE READING FOR THE DAY
Eph 5