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Click to watch “Lead Me” by Sanctus Real
Their armour glistened in the sunlight. The warriors, with passionate resolution, patrolled the perimeter of the property with weapons on the ready.
They knew their job. They knew their mission. Their commitment was unwavering, and their joy in the journey was contagious. They loved what they did and it showed. What they delighted in was seeing the one they were protecting in blessed assurance that she was indeed safe and secure under their watchful diligence.
Their armour and weaponry was custom made. In fact, they made it themselves: armour out of cardboard and tin foil, weapons out of wood. David was 8 and Benjamin was 7. They were patrolling our property on the lookout for threats to their mother – their queen. Anne was sitting in her favourite chair in the living room, relaxing while reading a book beside the large picture windows overlooking the lake.
Once on each patrol rotation around the property the boys would pass by Anne and bang on the window to ensure she was aware of their efforts, happy with their mission. They loved her loving them. She loved them loving her. Their protection was a practical demonstration of their love for their mother.
It was a beautiful picture of what naturally resides in the heart of a boy – to protect those they love. Especially their mother, the one woman they love more than any other on the face of the earth. There is something in the heart of every boy to protect his mother. Not to protect his father, but to protect his mother.
This childish desire is reflective of a critical role my sons will grow up to provide to their future wives: protection. Husbands fulfill 4 critical roles in their marriage: Pursuer, Partner, Protector and Provider. Oftentimes what we see played out in the lives of our sons demonstrates a much deeper desire planted in their hearts by God. Boys are not pretending to be warriors; they are practicing to be warriors.
As husbands we need to be aware of the warfare that surrounds us, our wives, our families, our churches, our companies, our communities, our countries – all of life. The reality is that the spiritual opposition set against us is also set against our wives and families.
We must engage in spiritual warfare on behalf of our wives. Not because our wives do not have authority is Christ, or because they are not able to fight on their own behalf. No, it’s because we carry a God-given covering for our wives.
You are not called to rescue your beauty. Only Jesus is the rescuer of your wife. You, however, are her freedom fighter.
You are called to an ongoing fight for the increasing freedom Jesus has for you and for your wife. You fight for and with her to appropriate all that God has for her, and for others through her. As husbands we must wear the mantle of our God-given authority to fight against the attacks of the enemy.
There are a number of practical steps you can take to fight for the freedom the Lord has for you and your wife:
As husbands we provide a spiritual covering for our wives meant to protect them, not to Lord it over them. We are freedom fighters, called to fight on behalf of our wives and help lead them to the freedom that Jesus, their rescuer, has for them.
You are a freedom fighter. A good marriage is worth fighting for, not fighting about.
Ephesians 5:23 (The Message)
“The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing.”
Ephesians 6:12
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
I Peter 5:8
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls round like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”