Becoming a Better Husband by Leading with Love, Courage, and Grace

We are kicking off the week with an important topic and a new devotion on "Becoming a Better Husband"!

Okay, we know only some people in the group are not married, but many of us are or will be at some point. For us married guys, our spouses are the most important relationships in our lives outside our relationship with our heavenly father.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Ephesians 5:25

Guys, we know how much God loves you. Dying on the cross, enduring shame and physical pain for you! What a great example of how we should love our wives and give ourselves up for them. So, what does that mean for you? Well, sorry to say it, guys, but we are human and don't have this figured out! However, we know we are a work in progress and something we should work on our entire lives.

“For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” Ephesians 5:31

Guys, there is a lot to unpack here. As we reflect on the topic, we will share a few thoughts from our current devotion time.

1. Courage to Love—We need to have courage with our convictions, all in all. When following God, we must lead courageously and lovingly with our spouses. Sometimes, that will require leadership, and other times, sacrifice. Either way, love should always be at the top of our list!

2. Laying down our life for our Spouse—If we are faced with a situation where we have to lay down our life for our spouse physically, are we ready to do so? Are we willing to sacrifice what we want to support our spouse? Seriously, guys, what should we be doing less so we can focus more on what supports our significant other?

3. Leaders—We are asked to be leaders for our homes and spouses, following Christ's example, listening to the Holy Spirit, and obeying God. That can be tough and can sometimes feel like being on an island. Stay strong, guys; our spouses and families are counting on it!

4. Students of Scripture—To equip ourselves to be good Husbands, we need to be active in the scriptures. As husbands, we must be prepared to respond to spiritual questions when they come our way. We have a direct line to God guiding our path in the Bible. What is he saying to us this week about our marriages?

5. Love through continued GRACE—Lord knows we all need plenty of it…but our wives do, too. God has consistently shown grace to us; how are we showing the same level of grace to our wives? Do we constantly remind them where they fall short OR consistently praise them for the many positive things they do for us?

6. Growth in Marriage—We often hear it in business: We are either growing or dying. When we look honestly at our marriage, would we say it is growing? Guys, this is our responsibility! Are we investing in our marriage as much as our business or hobbies? Let's be honest with ourselves. If we want our marriage to thrive, we must consistently invest time, energy, and love in it!

7. Husbands leading in Righteousness—Okay, guys, this one hits us right between the eyes. If we want to lead and love our wives, we must lead through righteousness in our personal lives. Are our habits pleasing to God? Are we demonstrating the fruits of the spirit in our lives? Are we acting in selflessness or selfishness? Guys, we need to be honest with ourselves here and support each other!

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are doing”  1 Thessalonians 5:11

Men, our roles as husbands couldn't be more important. We need to support one another to be the best we can be! Guys, we are praying for each of you this morning. We pray for encouragement, conviction, and confidence in being our best husbands!