Wifey part 1
I want to talk about the wife for a few days. And this is easy for me, because I have an awesome one. But I want to focus on how important that husband and wife relationship is both in the natural and in the Spiritual. Because WE are the bride of Christ. That's important to understand. But also, well, look at Genesis 2:24, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." There aren't many relationships that top the husband/wife dynamic. Maybe the Father/Son, considering that's how God chose to express Himself to us in the New Testament, with the person of Jesus. But even then, in a sense, its the same. Because Jesus said, "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). And that's the key. No separation. One flesh. We get so caught up in how high and almighty God is, and how low and horrible we are. "I'm just a sinner saved by grace..." Well, if you've been saved by grace you're not a sinner. You're something else. A saint. A Son. A wife. And I know I'm mixing my metaphors. But stick with me. Because this is good. Saved by grace. Transformed. "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" (Ephesians 5:25-27). Did you pick up what I'm putting down? Jesus cleaned us. He did everything that needed to be done. So that we could cleave to Him on an equal level. An even footing. When God pulled a rib out of Adam in order to create Eve He pulled it out of Adam's SIDE. So that neither would be higher than the other, so that neither would walk in front or behind, but so that they could walk side by side. Hand in hand. And that's something that we HAVE to understand: A marriage is a partnership. Its aboout two people standing back to back against any and every thing. Having each other's backs through thick and thin. And, again, as I mentioned, this is easy for me to Rant about because this is what I've got. But I see so many, not even marriages necessarily, but just relationships that are so twisted. One person controlling or dominating the other. And I told my brother this the other day, "Relationships are hard work... but they shouldn't be a battle." Sometimes I feel like we want to be with someone--anyone--that we're willing to settle for anything. And that's not ok. Because, as we saw in my passage of Scripture, Jesus GAVE HIMSELF for the church. For His bride. Love is giving, right? So if you're trying to get, you've missed the point. Even when we're talking about that marriage to Jesus, its not about getting. Its about receiving. Because He's already given everything He has and everything He is. And that's how we ought to treat OUR partner (whether it be husband OR wife). So let me just end tonight's Rant with this: "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD" (Proverbs 18:22). When you find yourself a legit wifey, its a good thing!