...to make her holy

How do we give ourselves up for her to make her holy? Isn't this what we are told in

Ephesians 5:25-26, that "Husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy (sanctify KJV) cleansing her by the washing with water through the word..."

After 10 years of marriage I still struggle how to sanctify my wife or make her pure by separating her from the profane/defiling. There is really only one way to do it, by a bath from the word of God.

In an attempt to live this verse... For two+ years we have read the bible every day together (minus one day of stomach flu). After thoughtful consideration of what this has meant in our marriage; yes it has been a blessing, but not what it could have been. We often read together just because of habit and less for a gospel cleansing. I need to continually lead us in study of the gospel and not just check the box for reading.

As one eats every day, of how much greater value is the word every day. The value is not on the same scale...

Washing with the water of the Word...

So, you know from our ongoing off-blog conversation that I am pretty stuck on the Gospel.  The Great News!  I have been, since 2008, growing increasingly aware of the need to know the Gospel, its ramifications in this world, particular for believers, and knowing how to live in light of our new situation In Christ.

Up until the last few weeks, while it was an ever increasing topic for discussion, it was in a sense theoretical, academic.

But just in the last week or so have a realized how desperately my family needs to know the Gospel deeply, and appreciate what the work of Christ represents for us.  There is nothing like it.

It seems kind of basic, because it is basic...that is...foundational: Christ loved the church by being and doing exactly what He did and who he was.

Paul puts it this way:

1Co 15:1-8  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  (2)  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  (3)  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  (4)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:  (5)  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  (6)  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  (7)  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.  (8)  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

What difference does that make?  So a guy came, lived, died and "magically" rose again...neat, but so what?

Well, in light of our question: How did Christ love the Church? that is it...he came, he lived, died and was resurrected.  Love Abounding.

It took the disciples a while to understand that anything had happened.  In fact, their question just before Christ's ascension reveals that they were ignorant that what had been happening for the last 33 years, and especially for the last 3 years was anything other than a series of neat miracles, interesting but mystifying teaching and a tragedy turned into a surprising celebration as Christ rose from the dead.

But they didn't understand the ramifications of His actions in light of who and what He was.

They asked in Act 1:6  "... Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? They asked this immediately before He was taken into heaven."

They had no idea the magnificent realities that had been birthed because of the actions Christ already had accomplished!

Do we?

I'm just starting to...

I need to wash myself, and my family in the water of the Word...the Seed...the Gospel!  He accomplished His love by the Good News of what He accomplished.  I accomplish my love...love like his, but understanding and teaching my family what his love has done for us.

Seed Wrapup

As a father and husband, the parable of the seed gives me both a focus and a warning.  The seeds of the Gospel of the Kingdom represent truth.  The world and Satan are naturally seeking to disrupt the cultivation of the seed. God is the one who "works all things after the counsel of his own will" and he has chosen us as husbands and fathers in our family to love, lead, teach, nourish, admonish, etc.

We need to be actively cultivating the soil of our lives and the lives of our family.

We must not allow the cares of this world, or Satan to entangle or strip the seed.

This is our mandate.

So, let's press on with the motivation of this parable stimulating us to work hard in the opportunities that God has given us to minister in our family.

The Good Soil

Luk 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. 

Okay, so obviously that is what we want to be, and want for our wives and children.  On the downside, we know a few facts.

Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 

But, thanks be to God

Eph 2:1-10  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;  (2)  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  (3)  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  (4)  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  (5)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  (6)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  (7)  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  (8)  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  (10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

So this process is something we, as dead in trespasses, are dependant on God's mercy for.  And, as 2 Peter says, we have obtained all we need through God:

2Pe 1:1-11  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:  (2)  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,  (3)  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  (4)  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

So what do ought we to do in light of His goodness to ensure fruitfulness as good soil for the seed?  2 Peter 1 again:

 (5)  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  (6)  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  (7)  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  (8)  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (9)  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  (10)  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  (11)  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

All diligence!

I'm choking here...

The seed that fell among the thorns are the seeds that concern me the most.

Luk 8:14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 

Cares, riches and pleasures of this life choking out the real fruit of the Spirit to the glory of God.  Man.  It seems to me that I am living among thorns, and so is my family.  Can we "weed out" all the thorns?  Probably not.  1Corinthians tells us, as married men, that "...he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife."  Elsewhere, in many places in scripture, even Paul himself declares that this relationship is a good thing, an opportunity to be like Christ as we lead our wives, and love them like Christ Loved the Church.  (Hence the subtitle of this blog).

But it all calls for carefulness, and weeding out what we can so that more fruit can be produced.

You and I need to be very careful, as some of the richest people in the world (just in case you don't realize this is true, Doc, try running your income on this calculator: I did, and it told me that I was in the wealthiest 1% of all people in the world (!).  Not boasting.  God provided.  What am I doing with it?


Lord, Help Me:

Luk 18:24-25  And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!  (25)  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Help me to remember:

1Ti 6:6-12  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  (7)  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  (8)  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  (9)  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  (10)  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  (11)  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  (12)  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Doc, you and I and our families are in the danger zone there, I think.  Are we being cautious enough?