Day 1...Ephesians 5:25-27

"Husband, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

Notes from the devotional:

• Do you want to know the character of a man? Look into the face of his wife. Whatever he has invested in her or withheld from her will be reflected in her countenance.
• God has MANDATED that every man draw his wife to splendor in Jesus Christ.

My notes:

• Men too often focus on verse 22... "Wives submit to your husbands..." and neglect what God commands them to do as husbands, which is divinely appointed and one of the key components of being the spiritual head of the household.
• Divorce and abandonment of children and violence and so on and so on can all be traced back to men ignoring their divinely appointed role as husband and father.

Personal challenge:

• Look at your wife's face. Does it reflect your love?
• Pray to love your wife as Christ loved the church.

~~from Men of Integrity: A Daily Guide to the Bible and Prayer (1999)~~