“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt 5:8). Though it is true that the only way for one to be pure is by the blood of Jesus Christ, I desire to testify to my wife’s name: Caitlin (meaning “Pure”). So, pure can also mean true. Psalm 12:6 notes that the words of the LORD are pure words. Psalm 19 talks about how the Word of the LORD is pure, or true. It is authentic, and exact. It is dependable, trustworthy, and faithful. So, though my wife is not perfect, she is true and trustworthy. She is faithful to her word.
Today I honor my wife. Why? Because she honors me, and she honors the Lord! She is a woman of covenant and promise. In fact, last night I found a letter she had written to me back in 2011. She wrote it when I was going through a time of great panic, anxiety, and insecurity about myself, my relationship with God, and our marriage. She basically, in a nutshell, wrote, and committed to, putting her own desires aside in any necessary way, and her own needs aside, in order to lift me up. That no matter how long it took, she was going to stand by me, and fight for me, in prayer and through God’s strength. That she would submit to me, at any cost, as long as it was under God’s order. Yes, she said that. No this was not our wedding day; we had already been married 7 years. And guess what? When my wife put this in writing, it fixed me. I knew she was a woman of integrity, but I desperately needed reassurance because of my own insecurities. Though I was still struggling to believe God was “for me” and loved me personally, my wife’s commitment assured me I had a helpmate, or partner, to walk beside me and encourage me in the Lord and in our marriage. And in truth, she has gone through a hell of a lot with me! She used to research things till late at night for me, when I had to get up early for work the next day, when I was struggling to believe the Bible (it’s authenticity and reliability). I used to struggle horribly with doubt. But my wife walked with me, encouraged me, and helped me research the history and authority of the scriptures, even for many years!
I love my bride! She is simply amazing. She is pure, holy, God-fearing, honest, true, trustworthy, faithful, and beautiful! The Word of God testifies to this: For, “her children rise up and call her blessed (and they have!); her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Prov. 31:28-30, emphasis mine). We all know these verses well, and we use them to flatter at times. But for those who know me, I value truth too much to flatter. I will speak the truth: the Lord has honored my bride for she honors me! This is a biblical blessing. My wife is excellent, and I brag on her for she is worthy of it. Since it is true, “an excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain” (Prov. 31:10-11). I have no lack. I am incredibly blessed by the Lord. I could go on and on regarding the ways my wife has proved to be a faithful helpmate and support for the last 17 years, but I will end with this important reminder for both husbands and wives. Because, when we do it God’s way, it is always the best way:
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish" (Eph. 5:22-27).
Aletheia: Truth in the Darkness 