March 20

Morning

Listen! My beloved approaches. Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. — Song 2:8 BSB

This was a precious name that the ancient Church often used to describe the Lord’s Anointed in her most joyful moments. When the time for singing came, and the voice of the dove was heard in the land, her love song was sweeter than anything as she sang, “My beloved is mine and I am His!” Always, in her greatest songs, she called Him by that beautiful name, “My beloved!” Even in the long winter, when idolatry had devastated the Lord’s garden, her prophets still found time to set aside their burdens for a moment, saying, like Elijah, “Now I will sing to my well-beloved, a song of my beloved.” Even though the saints hadn’t seen His face yet, even though He hadn’t come in the flesh to live among us or reveal His glory, He was still the consolation of Israel, the hope and joy of all the chosen, the “beloved” of all who were faithful before the Most High God.

Today, in the summer days of the Church, we also call Christ the beloved of our souls and know that He is precious, the “chief among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely one.” The Church’s love for Jesus is so deep that the apostle boldly dares the universe to separate her from His love. He declares that neither persecution, distress, affliction, danger, or the sword can do it! He joyfully proclaims, “In all these things—we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!”

Oh, that we would know You more, ever precious One!
My only treasure is Your love!
In all the earth and heaven above,
I have no other prize!
And though with passion I pray,
And seek You day by day,
I ask for nothing more.

Evening

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

What an incredible example Christ gives to His followers! Few teachers could say, “If you want to practice my teaching, just imitate my life.” But because Jesus’ life is the perfect expression of virtue, He can point to Himself as both the model of holiness and its teacher. As Christians, we should aim for nothing less than Christ as our model. We should never be satisfied unless we reflect His grace.

As a husband, a Christian is to look at the example of Jesus and follow that pattern. A true Christian husband should love his wife as Christ loves the church.

The love of a husband is a special kind of love. Jesus has a special affection for the church, one that sets her apart from the rest of the world: “I pray for them—I am not praying for the world.” The church is heaven’s treasure, the crown on Christ’s head, the bracelet on His arm, the breastplate on His heart, the very center of His love!

A husband should love his wife with a constant love, just as Jesus loves His church. His love doesn’t change. While He may change how He expresses it, the love itself remains the same.

A husband should love his wife with an enduring love, for nothing “can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

A true husband’s love is genuine and passionate—it’s not just words. Oh, beloved, what more could Christ have done to prove His love than what He has done? Jesus delights in His bride—He cherishes her affection and finds joy in her love. Christian, you marvel at Jesus’ love; you admire it—are you imitating it? In your relationships, is the standard of your love “just as Christ loved the church”?