25For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. Ephesians 5:25-26 (NLT)
One very important and impactful way a husband can love his wife is in what and how he speaks to her and about her.
Christ loved the Church by firstly giving Himself up for her, and then secondly He loved the Church and continues to do so by speaking to her and about her the Word of God.
This is how Christ cleanses and keeps His bride the Church Holy.
To cleanse here means to get rid of impurities and contamination. These are wrong and distorted ways of thinking and view of God, one’s self, others, and life.
Holy here means whole, nothing missing or broken.
A husband loves his wife, cleansing her, by speaking to her words and in a way that makes her believe, see, and feel that she’s unconditionally accepted and greatly valued.
This leads her to unconsciously effortlessly respond and behave as the accepted and valued one and consequently see and yield to her husband as her lover and lord.