"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." Ephesians 5:25-27
Husbands have a tall order to fill according to the commandment given in God's Word in Ephesians 5:25-27. Read today's key verse above again. Wow. Honestly, I am thankful I am the wife! Seriously, this scripture just hushes my heart in humility and thanksgiving to the Lord that He loves us so much to give this command. It also makes me pray more diligently for my husband, that God may fill him with His grace, purity and strength so he continues to honor God in his role as a husband.
"Cleanings her by the washing with water through the word" is the portion of today's scripture on which I want to focus.
My husband keeps me accountable to God's Word. He knows my heart's desire is to live according to His Word, and he takes that seriously. Whenever I have a "situation", whether big or small, Jim gives me counsel in accordance with scripture. He washes me in God's Word. Jim's commitment to the Truth is unwavering, and I am so thankful for that. It is bittersweet during times of conviction, but my ultimate desire is to yield to the Holy Spirit and God's Word. His Word penetrates my soul and gets to the attitudes of my heart. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
I will admit readily that sometimes I squirm and whine and want things my way, but Jim looks beyond my temporary hissy fit and keeps my eyes fixed on the Lord. He keeps God's Word as our standard. Oh how thankful I am for that. God's Word brings life. "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life." John 6:63
When my heart is hurt or I am needing guidance or comfort, Jim will wash me in the water of God's Word. God's truth drenches my soul and I am renewed. I can know for certainly God's will in all situations as we look to His Word. "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 The cleansing and washing we receive from God's Word is better than any spa treatment around! Our hearts and souls and refreshed and renewed. A husband who reads God's Word to his wife and holds her accountable to His truths therein is a precious gift.
Husbands, know how intrinsically precious it is to your wife when you wash her in the water of God's Word. How precious and sweet it is when a husband loves his wife as Christ loved the church, making her holy by washing her with the water of God's Word. Oh the joy of presenting her as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Wives, pray for your husband diligently. They have a tall order to fill! Build him up with respect and encouragement. Share your thankfulness for him when he washes you in the living water of God's Word. Tell him how important that is to you. If your husband is not at the place of washing you in God's Word, pray unceasingly and in humility for your husband. We will be praying for you, too!
May we all drench ourselves and our marriages in the eternal nourishment of the Living Water.
14 comments:
AMEN!
Absolutely beautiful!
Thanking God fervently for a husband who washes me and our children in the Word of God!
Love you and may your marriage continue to be richly blessed!
Jill
I have to confess, until now I never really understood what it "cleansing her by the washing with water through the word" meant. What a great lesson Sharon!
Sharon, this is beautiful! You are right about the tall order! Wow! You explained everything so nicely and I appreciate how your wrote it. Thank you!
Wow! I pray for a husband who will "wash me with water through the word." What a lovely message, Sharon.
Very good post. The husband's work is really an extension of the work Jesus does. Yes, the cleansing is by Jesus, but husbands are to participate in the continued cleansing, refreshing, etc. There is a lot more to love than the romantic concepts floating around today! Good post.
This scripture to me has always depicted the way Christ sees His church. Jesus fills this role as "Husband" for all of us in the body. Some women may not have husbands that are this kind of spiritual leader in their households. As strong believers, some women may have to do the "washing in the word" for a time as a witness to their husband while praying that he will eventually take on this role.
I am humbled by those who read this post and pray His truth is reflected.
I love how all through scripture Jesus is the Bridegroom and we are His bride. Oh it is just breathtakingly beautiful!
In this scripture, hubbies are commanded to love their wife JUST AS CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH. Wowzie. Again, that just humbles me.
Of course, we are all responsible each day to bath and steep ourselves in God's Word.
I feel such a call to pray for husbands, wherever they are in their relationship with the Lord, that they may grow in Him and "grow up" into Him who is the Head.
Ephesians 4:15
"...speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ."
Amen!
It's all about being more like Him!
Thanks Sharon!
I'm so glad I Googled this verse. I pray for a husband and relationship like that one day.
Me too! Read the verse then googled to find example of how the washing would take place... Thanks Sharon; my husband and I appreciate your post... Nearly 3 years later!
I googled this verse, since it stood out while I was listening to an old Alexander Scourby audio recording. The first few results were heretics trying to prove Baptismal Regeneration with "washing of water by the word" being "getting baptized at His command." Please steer clear of anyone who needs to force Scripture into such a twisted shape! This blog expresses the true reading of the passage, which not only magnifies Christ's love, but is also a beautiful picture of a biblical marriage, Christ humbling Himself to satisfy the Law of God, and husbands, following Christ's example, humbling themselves to obey God's Word, so they can advise their wives to conform to His Word, without any hypocrisy. The husband then, must "lay down his life" (surrender his will to God,) to lead his family by Christ's example. Excellent & Edifying Post! Amen! --a teacher
WASHING OF WATER? EPHESIANS 5:26
What does the washing of water found in Ephesians 5:26 mean? Should you, as a believer in Christ, look to creed books and Bible commentaries for the answer to that question or should you look to translations of the Bible for truth? Do you want to trust men or do you want to trust God's written word?
Ephesians 5:25-26...just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (NKJV)
How did Christ sanctify and cleanse the church? The church is the body of Christ. The church is comprised of Christians. How did Christ sanctify and cleanse the church?
Ephesians 5:26 to make her holy and clean, washed by baptismand God's word;(The Living Bible- Paraphrased)
Ephesians 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, (KJV)
Ephesians 5:26 in order to make her holy, cleaning her with the baptismal water by the Word. (Weymouth New testament)
Ephesians 5:26 He did this to make her holy by washing her in a bath of water with the word. (Common English Bible)
Ephesians 5:26 He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water.(Contemporary English Version)
Ephesians 5:26 In order that he might sanctify it, purifying [it] by the washing of water by [the] word, (Darby Translation)
Ephesians 5:26 He died to make the church holy. He used the telling of the Good News to make the church clean by washing it with water. (ERV-Easy-to-Read-Version)
Ephesians 5:26 He did this to make the church holy by cleaning it,washing it using water along with the spoken words. (God's Word Translation)
Ephesians 5:26 He did this to dedicate the church to God by his word, after making it clean by washing it in water, (Good News Translation)
Ephesians 5:26 He did this to make the church holy by cleansing it, washing it using water alone with the spoken words. (Names of God Bible)
Ephesians 5:26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (New American Standard Bible)
Ephesians 5:26 He did that so that he might make the church people holy, when they were washed with water by God's word. (World English N.T.)
Do you really want leave the interpretation of Ephesians 5:26 to others,why would you not read it and believe what it says?
Is God smart enough to guide men to accurately translate the Bible?
Two choices: 1. Trust God's written word, the BIBLE. or 2. Trust preachers, priests, pastors, Bible commentators, the man on the street, your friends and relatives or creed books, for the truth and nothing but the truth.
Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved....(NKJV)
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Sharon, thanks for expounding on that verse. To add to your example of [the husband being filled with Gods Word that he may recite scripture that's applicable, therein washing his wife with the Word], I believe that "tall order" isn't where majority of men need to start. We need to start with a more simple application of this command and that is to serve our wives.
Jesus loved the church by emptying himself and becoming a servant to His bride. This embracing of humility is something all men need to ask God's help to lay hold of because we wrap so much of our identity up in accomplishment and worldly-success. Walking with pride is all too natural for us. Jesus' demeanor of servant-hood had its ultimate expression when he took off his outer garments and washed his disciples feet. "Unless I wash you [you let me serve you], you have no part in me."
When I read this Eph5 passage and think of Jesus' example of serving His future bride [you & me] I see what it is about this kind of service that washes me and makes me holy. When Jesus serves he communicates indescribable value. He possesses infinite value, the King and Ruler of vast universes lifts me up, puts me as the center of His attention to enact a service unto me. This cleanses my inadiquacies, failures and all things dirty about me and transforms me into someone who is radiant, beautiful and stunning: who & what I was originally designed to be.
When I choose humility and serve my wife it communicates to her her true value, that I value her above myself; that I love her! I believe every man can start here, simply laying down our pride and taking a small action to wash our wife's feet.
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