I measure a man by the way he loves his wife.

Last night I was listening to a sermon and the preacher pointed something out that spoke volumes to me. He said: I measure a man by the way he loves his wife. I have no interest in how well you can preach or cast out demons, how well you can walk on water or prophesy. Your character is more important than your reputation. Don't get excited about someone's gift, look for character. Your gift is only as valid as your character.

All that the preacher had said made me think of the Apostle Paul's counsel to us wives: "...submit yourselves unto your own husbands..." (Ephesians 5:22) And to the husbands he says, "...love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it..." (v.25) My point of impact comes in these following verses: "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. No one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church." (v.28, 29) He's making reference to Christ and the church, very important. That's the same relationship a husband should have with his wife. Always imitating Christ's love for the church as the husband should love and care for his wife. A true man of God gives himself for his wife just like Christ did for the church.