Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.

(Ephesians 5:25 NIV)

Two older gentlemen were chatting one afternoon when one said to the other, “You’ve got an anniversary coming up soon, don’t you?”  The other man nodded. “Yep, this one’s a big one. Twenty years.”

“Wow,” said his friend. “That’s great! What are you getting your wife for your anniversary?”  “I’m giving her a trip to Australia,” the man replied.

“Impressive!” said the friend. “That’s quite a gift! What are you going to do for your 25th anniversary?”

The man grinned and said, “Go back and get her.”

My 20th anniversary has long since come and gone, but that story still makes me smile.

Marriage is truly one of God’s greatest blessings. Those of us who have walked this road for a while know it’s filled with both joy and challenge, laughter and tears, ordinary days and sacred moments. Through it all, I’ve had the incredible privilege of walking beside my wife — my confidante, encourager, and best friend. She’s been there in the highs and the lows, offering patience when I fall short and grace when I least deserve it.

Sometimes I think she deserves a medal for putting up with me. But more often, I’m reminded that marriage isn’t about endurance — it’s about growing in love that is modeled after the highest standard of all.

Paul wrote:  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25 NIV)

That’s not an easy command — it’s a call to selfless, sacrificial love. Christ’s love wasn’t based on convenience or comfort. He gave everything for his bride, the church. And that’s the pattern husbands are called to follow: to love in a way that serves, protects, and lifts up the one God has entrusted to us.

No husband will ever do this perfectly, but by God’s grace, we can keep growing toward it—learning to love more like Jesus every day.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving your church with such sacrificial love. Teach me to love my spouse with that same spirit — to give, to serve, and to cherish.  Strengthen our marriage so that it reflects your heart to the world.  Amen.

Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day