Nourish, carefully protect and cherish her – as Christ does the church

Men, let’s tell the truth! If your partner was like this towards you (see the verse below), how would you react?

let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly]. – Eph 5:33

I don’t know about you, but if my (future) wife notices me first, regards my efforts for her, prefers me over any other man, honors me in public, esteems me and praises me… exceedingly… well… there is nothing I wouldn’t do for her.

In fact, I’d lay down my life for someone who treated me like that! Oh, wait… the bible says I should do exactly that!

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her – Eph 5:25

Brothers, here is how it works and it begins with you, not her…

1. If you are living out your Godly role, she will see it.
2. As she sees it, she either likes it or she does not.
3. If it’s what she is looking for, she will naturally highly esteem you and admire you.
4. When you’re getting that kind of attention, you will naturally respond to her!

But the first move was yours. It began long ago, when you were a little boy shooting imaginary bad people around the house. That hero is right there inside you!

As a Christian man, you must be seeking Jesus Christ, walking to the best of your ability with God, doing what you believe is the right thing. If she desires to live with such a man who is living in this way, she will admire your best efforts… and she will prefer you over her friends and her family, she will praise your efforts to provide for her, to protect your family.

And if she is praising you and admiring you… tell me the truth… won’t you automatically do the things the bible says you should?

let each man of you [without exception] love his wife as [being in a sense] his very own self – Eph 5:33

but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church – Eph 5:29

husbands should love their wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies – Eph 5:28

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her – Eph 5:25

The call on each partner is quite different. She is asked by God to see the best in you. God is asking her to tell you that you are doing a great job. Exceedingly!

And you are called to nourish her, carefully protect her and to cherish her, to lay down your life for her.

God put testosterone in your veins. It is already within you to protect your wife and your family! Testosterone drives you to have ideals and dreams and passions – so live them out, and achieve something that you believe in… and then she can see that and admire you exceedingly.

Nourish, protect and cherish. Do you know what it means to cherish? (I had to look it up in the dictionary). It means “to show great tenderness for; treasure”.