“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” – Ephesians 5:1-2
Scripture reading: Ephesians 5:22-33
As a young child, I remember seeing my parents putting everything in the house in order to prepare for an elder’s visit. The elder, sometimes accompanied by the minister, would visit once a year. The purpose of the visit was to encourage believers in our precious faith and ensure the members of the household continue to be faithful in Christian duties. While I heartily applaud this practice, a once-a-year visit is not enough for believers to dig in and examine their lives.
A good accountability partner should, based on a passage like this one, be asking you: “How have you shown your wife that you love her?” Believers caught up in the rush of daily activities can easily take a spouse for granted. A husband is commanded to love his wife sacrificially and serve her, as Christ loved the Church. A wife is to submit herself to her husband as to Christ. Their marriage is to be a picture of Christ’s grace and mercy to His beloved Bride, the Church. What a high calling this is.
A wise marriage counselor once stated: “If you are not your spouse’s biggest cheerleader, then whoever becomes that will steal your spouse’s attention and eventually your spouse’s heart.” Believing husbands and wives must be focused on both blessing, and being blessed by their life’s partner God has given them. A faithful, accountability partner can help the believer understand where obedience to this high calling is being neglected, or celebrate the ways in which your marriage models the love of Christ for His people.
Suggestions for prayer
If you are not married, pray for your friends, your fellow church members who are married, that God will bless them in their marriage; as a husband or wife, pray that God will increase your capacity to love and serve your wife or husband.
Rev. Richard T. Vander Vaart and his wife Carolyn are now in their seventh year living in Moncton, NB. with Redemption Prison Ministry as a pastor in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com