Spurgeon: March PM
* 03/20/PM
"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 "?