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Testimonies for the Church Volume 7
Affection may be as clear as crystal and beauteous in its purity,
yet it may be shallow because it has not been tested and tried. Make
Christ first and last and best in everything. Constantly behold Him,
and your love for Him will daily become deeper and stronger as it is
submitted to the test of trial. And as your love for Him increases, your
love for each other will grow deeper and stronger. “We all, with open
face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the
same image from glory to glory.”
2 Corinthians 3:18
.
You now have duties to perform that before your marriage you
did not have. “Put on therefore, ... kindness, humbleness of mind,
meekness, long-suffering.” Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved
us.” Give careful study to the following instruction: “Wives, submit
yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband
is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church....
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to
their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even
as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.”
Colossians
3:12
;
Ephesians 5:2, 22-25
.
Marriage, a union for life, is a symbol of the union between Christ
and His church. The spirit that Christ manifests toward the church is
the spirit that husband and wife are to manifest toward each other.
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Neither husband nor wife is to make a plea for rulership. The Lord
has laid down the principle that is to guide in this matter. The husband
is to cherish his wife as Christ cherishes the church. And the wife
is to respect and love her husband. Both are to cultivate the spirit of
kindness, being determined never to grieve or injure the other.
My brother and sister, both of you have strong will power. You
may make this power a great blessing or a great curse to yourselves and
to those with whom you come in contact. Do not try to compel each
other to do as you wish. You cannot do this and retain each other’s
love. Manifestations of self-will destroy the peace and happiness of
the home. Let not your married life be one of contention. If you do you
will both be unhappy. Be kind in speech and gentle in action, giving
up your own wishes. Watch well your words, for they have a powerful
influence for good or for ill. Allow no sharpness to come into your
voices. Bring into your united life the fragrance of Christlikeness.
Before a man enters a union as close as the marriage relation, he
should learn how to control himself and how to deal with others.