Ephesians 5:25

       “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her”. Referring to this verse, I’ve heard men say that they would take a bullet for their wife to protect them. This is not what Jesus was telling us husbands (male), or any young man who wants to get married, to love their wives (female). It’s not a life of me Tarzan, you Jane, but a life of standing by your wife, not standing over them. It was Christ’s AGAPE love with which He loved us the church, and it is the way we men were called to love our wives. You can’t say, well what about if she does/did this, or what about if she does/did that. Were you always lovable, or forgivable? But He loved you unconditionally, didn’t He? If you put any conditions on your love for your wife, you aren’t AGAPE, loving you wife as Christ loved the Church. Notice that little word “JUST” in the verse, it literally means according to how He loves the Church. You are to lay down your life, die to yourself, and unconditionally LOVE your wife. If you’re not, it may be the reason your prayers are hindered (1 Peter 3:7).  It is a life laid down to serve not be served, just as He did not come to be served but to serve (Matthew 20:28). Are you loving you wife “just as” Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her?