Happy Valentine's Day

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her... - Eph 5:25

We are called to love our wives the same way Christ loved the church. In other words, it's agape and sacrificial love.

Why is this important?

If we can love our wives the same way Christ loved the church, it is true sacrificial love that comes from within, and that will permeate every area of our lives. If we can love our wives that way, we will truly love people outside of our family unit.

But if we love people outside more than we love our wives, it is an indication of self-centred love. It is a kind of love that is not pure. It is a kind of love that is self-seeking. Because we are merely 'showing love', instead of walking in true love.

Merely loving people outside doesn't need to be sacrificial. Because you can 'hit-and-run'. Because you don't need to experience tension. Because you don't need to keep facing the person when issues arise. Because you can easily agree to disagree. Because it is harder to get hurt from people you are not really close with. Because you don't have to lay down your life to serve the same person regardless of any situation.

But loving people inside requires sacrificial love. Because it's 365 days a year; it's 24 hours every day.

"Our role is to love our wives. Christ's role is to love the church." I remember this phrase very clearly, which was shared by Joseph Chean, who was then YWAM Base Director. And he stepped into missions field more than many of us. 

Sometimes, we get it upside down. We step into Christ's role to love the church and we neglect our wives. This is one reason why we see many broken Christian marriages. Because we confuse serving in ministry with loving Jesus. And we put ministry first. That is not sacrificial love. If we search the root, we will come to realise that is self-centred love. It is an identity issue.

Jesus demonstrated amazing sacrificial love, especially for His disciples.

John 13:1 - And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree.

And this, Jesus included Judas, the disciple whom He loved, the disciple who journeyed with Him throughout His ministry, the disciple whom He shared His life and intimate moments with, and the very same disciple who betrayed Him to the hands of His enemies.

I cannot imagine how He continued to love Judas to the very end, to the very last and to the highest degree. But He did it. He gave His life for Judas. It must have hurt deeply. But He wasn't hurt by Judas. He hurt FOR him. For He is love.

May we see His love more and more, so that we can walk in His love. And love our wives the same way He loved the church, and gave Himself for her.

For that is true love, that will permeate every area of our lives. We can then truly love people everywhere we go.

Happy Blessed Valentine's Day to all!