Do you know why I love this time of year? It’s football season! I love sitting down and relaxing for a few hours while I watch a game on TV.

And you know, through football, I think we can better understand how marriage works.

You see, on a football team it’s absolutely essential that you have a quarterback who takes the signals from his coach. And men, this is certainly true concerning your marriage. There needs to be a quarterback. Someone must take the leadership role!

But what does it really mean for you and me to be good quarterbacks? Well first, we have to take the plays from our coach! And one of the clearest signals he has sent right to us is found in Ephesians 5:25, which says, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

You know, there are many commands for husbands found in the Scripture, but this one really sums up all the rest…love your wife!

Now, this love is not simply an emotional love. No, it’s also an active love. Husbands are commanded to love their wives in the same way that Christ loved the church…by giving himself up for her!
 
Husbands are commanded to love their wives in the same way that Christ loved the church…by giving himself up for her!

You know, there are some husbands out there whose favorite verse is “Wives, submit to your own husbands.” But if you think that submission and the respect of your wife will come because you demand it, you are sadly mistaken. 

Your wife will respond to you when you’re willing to lead her as a servant and love her with the love of Jesus Christ. So don’t just be willing to die for your wife. But be willing to die for her each day by loving her selflessly. That, my friend, is the role of a godly husband.