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Home » Marriage » MARRIAGE DEVOTIONAL: Sacrificial Love

MARRIAGE DEVOTIONAL: Sacrificial Love

By Bill Arbuckle
April 15, 2025

Robertson McQuilkin was at the peak of his career when his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her condition worsened, and he chose to care for his wife full time.

Today’s Scripture

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Ephesians 5:25 (ESV)

Today’s Devotional

Once upon a time a noble knight married a beautiful princess, and they lived happily ever after. For a while. And then came a dragon who started stealing from the princess — a memory here, an idea there. A story. A smile. A thought. The dragon was quiet and sneaky. At first, no one noticed things were missing. Then came a day when the knight realized his princess was fading away. There was nothing he could do to save her, but he could stand by her to the end. So, he did.

This is no fairy tale. It’s the real-life story of Robertson and Muriel McQuilkin. Robertson was the president of Columbia International University when his wife Muriel was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Robertson was at the peak of his career. The university was thriving and training young people to serve Christ. At first, Robertson tried juggling his work at the college and his wife’s health needs. But as Muriel’s condition worsened, Robertson had to make a choice: he could lead the university or care for his wife. As he prayed over the situation, he realized he’d already made his choice long before: “I promised that in sickness and in health till death do us part,” he told university leaders, “It’s not that I have to. I get to.”

For the next 13 years, Robertson put his career and accomplishment aside to focus on the greater work of caring for his wife. “Husbands, love your wives,” the Apostle Paul encouraged men in the church at Ephesus. “Love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25, ESV).

Robertson would be the first to say he’s not a knight in shining armor. He’s just a husband who loved his wife and honored his commitment to her. But his story points us to Christ’s sacrificial love for His Bride, the Church. That’s the challenge that men are asked to accept. To love our wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her.

Yes, it’s a sacrifice, but it’s a sacrifice every noble knight is willing to accept.