The Talk

Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That 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.

Many years ago, my parents were struggling to have “the talk” with me as a young boy who was on the verge of manhood.  I had grown up on the farm and was very familiar with the activities that had to take place between the animals that would result in the soon-to-appear new little animals that would eventually show.  I’m sure there was some amount of fear and trepidation on the part of my parents in their attempt to explain the differences between what the animals do and what God expects.

My Mother’s final decision was to buy me a book entitled, “Husbands, Love Your Wife!”  I still remember that book because I devoured it looking for the information that they struggled to convey and couldn’t bring themselves to do so.  That book was built around the text in Ephesians where Paul instructs husbands to love their wives in the same manner that Jesus Christ loved His church.  It was not “the talk” that I had been anticipating but instead a very insightful exploration of what human males and females need from their ultimate human relationship; marriage.  I learned that the human male is most equipped to bring love to his wife.  This wasn’t the kind of love I began reading the book in search of but was the kind of love that God had envisioned a woman would most personally need and was what man was uniquely able to provide.  The context of this love was explained in how Jesus exhibited His love by his personal sacrifice for His church’s ultimate welfare.

My dear friends, Valentine’s Day is coming!  Here is the best opportunity you are going to have to show your wife you love her.  Find a unique and UNEXPECTED way to express your love to your wife.  Make sure she knows this is important and personal to you and I guarantee, she will find it important and personal to herself.  Do this!  I can’t say it any stronger.

Even in the midst of such knowledge, I remain . . .