When Marriage Mirrors Heaven

 "For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior." 
Ephesians 5:23 (NIV)

Your marriage is meant to be a living portrait of Christ's love for His church. Let that sink in for a moment.

In Ephesians 5, Paul uses the word "church" six times in just a few verses because he desperately wants you to grasp this connection. The way the wife relates to the husband is the way the church is to relate to Jesus. The way the husband relates to the wife is the way that Jesus relates to the church.

The church submits to Jesus willingly. Why? Because the church knows that Jesus loves her and wants only what is best for her. There's no fear in this submission, no degrading, and no abuse. It’s only trust born from proven love. 

Jesus gave His life for the church. This same self-sacrificing love should mark every Christian marriage.

Remember, submission is not about inferiority; it's about maturity, responsibility, and authority. Both husband and wife are created in God's image, and both have God-given roles to fulfill.

Here’s how your marriage can function as God designed: husbands love sacrificially and wives relate respectfully. When you obey God’s instruction in the way you relate to your spouse, you become a living testimony of the gospel. Your neighbors will see Christ's love displayed in your driveway conversations and dinner table interactions.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your Word, instructing and training us in righteousness. Lord, make our marriage a beautiful picture of Your love for the church. When others see how we love and serve each other, may they glimpse Your heart. In Jesus’ precious Name, Amen.