Feb
13
2010
Husband and wife
“Let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:33
God made Adam first and put him in the Garden with a job to do, a mission to fulfill. In the heart of every fallen man is the self-doubt that wonders, “Am I man enough to climb this mountain God has called me to? Can I fulfill my destiny?” A wise wife will understand that question at the center of her husband’s heart. And she will spend her life answering it, communicating to him in various ways, “Honey, I believe in your call. I know you can do this, by God’s power. Go for it.” In this way, she will breathe life into her man.
God made Eve from Adam, for Adam, to help him follow the call. In the heart of every fallen woman is the self-doubt that wonders, “Do I please you? Am I what you wanted?” A wise husband will understand that question at the center of his wife’s heart. And he will spend his life answering it, communicating to her in various ways, “Darling, you are the one I need. I cherish you. Let me hold you close.” In this way, he will breathe life into his wife.
24 Comments
Well said, Ray. This is the platform I use in understanding myself in marriage and the same exhortation I give couples considering marriage. You have wonderfully stated the kernel of it all.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by montelawlis: Ray Ortlund – Husband and wife http://bit.ly/bIsgRu >what a way to express such a tremendous truth….
Thank you, I cherish truth about marriages and Christ-centered love
Wonderfully put! And you and Jani are a good example of this. Thansk for this.
Ah, at last, what being a “life-giver” looks like.
Thanks so much for condescending to those of us insisting on he concrete.
marvelously helpful
this is so true. But its a shame when the entire world tells a woman the opposite! “You are not to be cherished because that is a sign of weakness.” May we understand our nature and relish who we are !
David
http://www.redletterbelievers.com
“Salt and Light”
[...] Valentine’s Day to everyone today. Here is some very short, Biblical advice for husbands and wives in loving one another as Christ and the church by Ray Ortlund. There are plenty of good books [...]
I could barely read this aloud to my husband this morning without crying. Not just crying, but sobbing. Christ has redeemed a wreck of a woman, a hellion of a husband, a mess of a marriage..but it wasn’t until one of us realized what true love REALLY looks like, and started REALLY walking in it. Thank you, Pastor, for reminding us both again and focusing us on how to really love each other for His glory.
Thank you Ray for these encouraging words that reinforce the Biblical worldview of a marriage relationship!! Sure do miss Jani and you!!
Excellent!
[...] Leave a Comment Here is a blog post from pastor Ray Ortlund on husbands and wives. Well worth the read. [...]
Very true. I’m sure the Church could be seen as a hindrance to Christ’s ministry many times, but that doesn’t stop his love and care. The book of Hosea is only one such example.
Well said both of you… after all the greatest thing is love.. what greater ministry is there than that? If I have (a great ministry… or whatever), but have not love I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol
Well said! The secular world so ignorantly confuses the ROLES of men and women with their STATUS. People who are sealed by the Holy Spirit at the moment of their Salvation are equal in their STATUS in the eyes of God. The ROLE God has given to Brothers in Christ and the ROLE God has given to Sisters in Christ have NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with their STANDING before the Lord.
[...] Husband and wife Husband and wife [...]
[...] Breathing Life Into Each Other By B Treece Pastor Ray Ortlund explains how husbands and wives can encourage and give life to one another. [...]
Wow! Great thoughts! I’ll be applying this in my own marriage. Thanks!
Beautiful post..When two people enter into marriage, both are cast into a new role different from any role they have ever been in before and their respective roles are clearly defined and outlined in the Scriptures. Up to this time they have been just a man and woman like all other men and women. But now that man is no longer just a man but he is a husband with certain fixed and clearly defined duties and responsibilities toward that certain woman he has taken to be his wife. That women is no longer just a woman but she is now a wife with clearly defined duties and responsibilities toward the man she has chosen to be her husband.
Anu
bibleilluminated.com
[...] Ray Orltund writes the following: God made Adam first and put him in the Garden with a job to do, a mission to [...]
[...] – Ray Ortlundsource [...]
[...] Husband and wife Jump to Comments Husband and wife [...]
[...] Husband and Wife-this is a great simple quote about what husbands and wives are created to do for one another through Christ. The simplicity of the words has stuck with me through the past week though the message continues to challenge me. [...]
[...] lovely wife sent me the following from Ray Ortlund. Good stuff. Great encouragement to keep on going–thank you [...]
[...] It’s no secret that I haven’t finished writing a piece for my own blog since last August. That’s pathetic. I have written a lot of lengthy individual correspondence in that time. I do take some comfort from the fact that many of my favorite authors wrote far more letters than anything else. Somehow that thought loses its beauty when I remember that instead of hand written labors of love, perhaps scribbled by firelight, I am ambushed by a flood of e-mails. In any case I digress into sharing with you some words from writers far more talented than me today’s selections are from John Eldredge and Ray Ortlund. [...]