Evening, March 20
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Ephesians 5:25
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church."
Ephesians 5:25
What a golden example Christ gives to his disciples! Few masters could
venture to say, "If you would practise my teaching, imitate my life;"
but as the life of Jesus is the exact transcript of perfect virtue, he
can point to himself as the paragon of holiness, as well as the teacher
of it. The Christian should take nothing short of Christ for his model.
Under no circumstances ought we to be content unless we reflect the
grace which was in him. As a husband, the Christian is to look upon the
portrait of Christ Jesus, and he is to paint according to that copy.
The true Christian is to be such a husband as Christ was to his church.
The love of a husband is special. The Lord Jesus cherishes for the
church a peculiar affection, which is set upon her above the rest of
mankind: "I pray for them, I pray not for the world." The elect church
is the favourite of heaven, the treasure of Christ, the crown of his
head, the bracelet of his arm, the breastplate of his heart, the very
centre and core of his love. A husband should love his wife with a
constant love, for thus Jesus loves his church. He does not vary in his
affection. He may change in his display of affection, but the affection
itself is still the same. A husband should love his wife with an
enduring love, for nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love
of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." A true husband loves his
wife with a hearty love, fervent and intense. It is not mere
lip-service. Ah! beloved, what more could Christ have done in proof of
his love than he has done? Jesus has a delighted love towards his
spouse: He prizes her affection, and delights in her with sweet
complacence. Believer, you wonder at Jesus' love; you admire it--are
you imitating it? In your domestic relationships is the rule and
measure of your love--"even as Christ loved the church?"