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The Role of Husbands and Fathers
Ephesians 5:25-33 says, “25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church. 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
Since we understand that the enemy’s greatest plan is to war against the family unit that God designed from the very beginning by dividing and conquering, it is important that we do our best to protect and guard our homes. Although we read in scripture where David had to encourage himself in the Lord and pursue after the Amalekites for kidding the families of the children of Israel and burning down the city, all of this could have been avoided if he would have never left his home unprotected. Therefore, we must spiritually protect our homes, and the best way to do that is to follow the format of the family structure that is written in the Word of God. The three simple rules to abide by are that husbands must love their wives, wives must submit to their husbands, and children must obey their parents. It is easier said than done, but when it is obeyed, God’s favor will rest upon that family!
Husbands are to love their wives with the same love that Jesus has extended to the church, which exonerates significant commitment and sacrifice because Jesus was willing to lay down His own life, which He did, for the salvation and protection of His bride. The love of a husband is a selfless love because they have become one, loving her as much as he loves himself. This was what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden, and it is what God’s will is in every sanctified marriage. They must come together in unity in love, as the husband must be willing to leave everything behind to be committed! A powerful way for husbands to demonstrate that love is by sanctifying and cleansing their wives through words of encouragement, affirmation, and prayer. 1 Peter 3:7 says, “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” Husbands are to honor their wives through love and words of encouragement because they need that in order to have a greater level of confidence. The enemy loves to beat up women with negativity and attacking them emotionally, but husbands can help their wives defeat and overcome that by only speaking positive words of encouragement and blessing. By doing so, their marriage will work more harmoniously, and the husband’s prayers can be answered by God. He will refuse to hear and meet those prayerful needs when a husband refuses to give honor to the wife where it is due!
Not only are husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church, fathers are to love their children, whose serve as a token of the unity of marriage and its creative abilities, in the same way that God our Heavenly Father loves us. God is always there to grace and welcome us with His loving arms wide open, speaking words of encouragement. However, He is also a God of discipline! Hebrews 12:6 (New American Standard Bible) says, “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” A true father must discipline their children in love, even praying over them consistently. Children need to see their parents pray so that they can model their lives in prayer and always want to be blessed by God through their parents’ praying and obedience to Him. In today’s generation, it seems as though many parents look at their children as a check and refuse to show them any love in any form or manner. They will let them simply run wild, or they are verbally and physically abusive. The Apostle Paul warns about this. Ephesians 6:4 says, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Fathers are not to be abusive or allow their emotions to get out of control. Instead, they are to discipline and nurture in love as it is key to children’s growth and maturity! They are to love with the same love that God has extended to His children (Proverbs 22:15; 13:24; Hebrews 12:5-11). If a man will fulfill his godly respondibility of being a true husband and father in the home, God’s blessing will always result!