Going back to Ephesians five, there is another verse that is advantageous for us to look at.  From last week we remember verse 28, “And that is how husbands ought to love their wives.  They’re really doing themselves a favor – since they’re already one in marriage.”  Another version states it this way, …”husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies.”  The “why” in this statement is answered when the scripture reveals that a man actually loves himself when he loves his wife who he is one with.  In other words, to put your wife down is to put yourself down.  To speak negative of yourself is to speak negative of your husband because you are one.  To harm your spouse in any way is to harm yourself.

Looking at verse 29 of Ephesians 5: “No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as Christ cares for his body, which is the church.”  Where does spousal abuse come from?  Through divine inspiration, Paul the Apostle reveals that it comes from hating yourself.  Out of self-hate you abuse your wife or your husband.  How do we receive healing from self-hate?  Receive the totally consuming, perfect, forgiving and magnanimous love that Jesus has for you!  To go from self-hate to an appropriate self-love can only occur through the transforming power of the love of God’s Son.