Lead Well, Men

 "Nevertheless, each one of you must also love [agape] his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect [phobeo] her husband." 

Ephesians 5:33


It is not our nature to live in the way this verse describes. The Greek words describe a sacrificial and intentional love for wives as well as a reverent and fearful respect that defers to the authority of husbands. 


But we are naturally selfish and rebellious. We can often rightly point out that our wives and children don't treat us with respect. As men we need to feel respected, admired, within our homes, even more than our need to feel loved.


Nonetheless, we are called to lead our households. We can be good leaders or bad leaders, but either way we are leaders of our families. 


So turning our thoughts away from how our needs as men are often not met, consider this: 

~ Are you living a life that is worthy of respect? 

~ Do you understand who you are called to be by God as the leader of your household and intentionally, even sacrificially, loving your wife and children as they need? 


I know it can be exhausting, and humanly impossible.


It's not a matter of doing what they want or what you want to do, but living out your calling as God's appointed leader. 


Respect is given, but respect is also earned. 


If He has called you to it, you can ask Him for the ability to do it. Ask for wisdom, for strength and for favor. 


❤


copyright ©2025 Mitchell Malloy (http://mitchellmalloyblogspot.com/)

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