INTRO: So it is Valentine’s Day soon. A Valentine is a Loved-one. Have you anything for your valentine? Do you have a Value-Line Valentine? Are we really thankful for our spouses? Do we consider them just run-of-the-mill? How should we treat them? Like the best!
 
 

Eph. 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
 

1. When it comes to our relationships – we should be wise & not a fool! vs. 15-17

• High Esteem vs. 15 (best friend)
• Honesty vs. 15 (circumspectly) 18
• Heritage - vs. 20 (build on good things)
• Honor at all times(22-25)
• Humor – should we not enjoy life? - vs. 19

2. We need to realize that Christ is our model – He gives us four good examples:

1. React to His love – Christ first loved us!
2. Receive His love – we can reject it!
3. Renew our vow to Him daily - conversing with Him is a necessity
4. Reiterate (speak) our love to Him.

3. We need to become involved with Him and His ways

1. He should be the most important thing in our lives – 28
2. We are here to work together - 30
3. We are to leave the world behind. – 31
4. We should put Him before self! - 33

Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist - 0208998am