January 7, 2016

Ephesians 5:27  NLT - "He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious Church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish.  Instead, she will be holy and without fault."

Commentary:

Paul continues with the effect of Christ loving the Church by giving HIs life for her.  A husband usually doesn't really get to change his bride to suit him the way he wants.  Most husbands find in the woman they marry someone who already has all the attributes and characteristics that he finds most appealing.  However, with Christ there is the aspect of His ability to change in His Bride the things that need to be changed so she will be perfect for living with Him for eternity.  And that is why the Lord has done everything necessary to make His Bride the way she will be at the marriage supper mentioned in Revelation 19. 

Husbands can learn a valuable lesson from this:  Christ is the only One who can change a person from the inside out.  As Christ does this for His Bride, He does this for each individual Christian whether man or woman.  As a husband walks close to the Lord and as he leads his wife to do the same, they both go through the transformation process that Christ's salvation made possible.  We are all to be molded and conformed to the image of Christ, Romans 8:29.  And every husband would do well to see that as a goal he wants to pursue for himself and a goal he wants his wife to pursue too.  Both husband and wife will find their marriage all the more enjoyable when they see this process continue to happen every day of their lives.