Jesus knows all about being
spurned, rejected, belittled, betrayed. How did He respond, the One who has never deserved anything but gratitude and worship? "He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth." to defend himself in the face of unjust accusations. (Are you feeling sheared--naked, exposed, and shivering with cold and humiliation?)
Oh look, we've got mail! "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution. . . For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly."
And more mail! In Ephesians, chapter 5, God through the apostle Paul has written to tell us the secret to an abundant life. He starts out (verse 15) talking about being intentionally wise, about being filled with the Holy Spirit and with song and about being thankful. Then he says, almost as an afterthought, "(Oh, and by the way,) submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."
But in no way is this just a throwaway line. It is foundational to all he is about to say about relationships--between husbands and wives, between parents and children, between servants and masters. Every one of us in the body of Christ is called to mutual submission.
The rest of this part of the letter is giving us the secret of the abundant married life. Listen up! This is good stuff. He is going to be specific. By the way, there is a letter in that same passage addressed to your spouse, but since it isn't addressed to you, don't be concerned with it. It's not your job to change your spouse. That's God's job. It's your job to love your spouse.
WIVES
Oh look, we've got mail! "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution. . . For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly."
And more mail! In Ephesians, chapter 5, God through the apostle Paul has written to tell us the secret to an abundant life. He starts out (verse 15) talking about being intentionally wise, about being filled with the Holy Spirit and with song and about being thankful. Then he says, almost as an afterthought, "(Oh, and by the way,) submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."
But in no way is this just a throwaway line. It is foundational to all he is about to say about relationships--between husbands and wives, between parents and children, between servants and masters. Every one of us in the body of Christ is called to mutual submission.
The rest of this part of the letter is giving us the secret of the abundant married life. Listen up! This is good stuff. He is going to be specific. By the way, there is a letter in that same passage addressed to your spouse, but since it isn't addressed to you, don't be concerned with it. It's not your job to change your spouse. That's God's job. It's your job to love your spouse.
WIVES
God's letter to us wives
is in verses 22-24: "For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything."
Paul counsels something similar in I Peter, chapter 3: "In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.
"Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do."
Jesus calls us wives to yield to our husband's headship whether he is worth it or not, whether he responds positively or not. He calls us to do this out of obedience to Him, as if we are doing it for Him, the One who is worthy. He will enable us to accomplish this if we let Him love our spouse through us.
Jesus calls you to see yourself as standing on the same side as your husband, being his helper, support and cheerleader. He wants you to
resolve by a daily (hourly, if necessary) act of your will to love him as the one God has appointed to be head of your marriage, seeking his best interests by serving him, asking his forgiveness, or forgiving him whether he asks for
forgiveness or not. Whatever else it means, it means humbling yourself as Christ
did.Paul counsels something similar in I Peter, chapter 3: "In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.
"Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do."
Jesus calls us wives to yield to our husband's headship whether he is worth it or not, whether he responds positively or not. He calls us to do this out of obedience to Him, as if we are doing it for Him, the One who is worthy. He will enable us to accomplish this if we let Him love our spouse through us.
Do it for Jesus, as an act of obedience, as an act of worship, as an evidence of the intimate love between you and Him.
HUSBANDS
God's letter to husbands in Ephesians chapter 5 is in
verses 25-30: "For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a
spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and
without fault. In the
same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own
bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body."
Jesus calls you to love your wife whether she is worth it or not, whether she responds positively or not. He calls you to do this in obedience to Him, as if we are doing it for Him, the One who is worthy. He will enable you to accomplish this if you let Him love her through you.
Jesus calls you to love your wife whether she is worth it or not, whether she responds positively or not. He calls you to do this in obedience to Him, as if we are doing it for Him, the One who is worthy. He will enable you to accomplish this if you let Him love her through you.
Jesus calls you to see yourself as standing on the same side as your wife, being her defender and
champion. He asks you to
resolve by a daily (hourly, if necessary) act of your will to love her as Christ
loved the church, laying down your life for her moment-by-moment, whether that
means serving her, asking her forgiveness, or forgiving her whether she asks for
forgiveness or not. Whatever else it means, it means humbling yourself as Christ
did.
Do it for Jesus, as an act of obedience, as an act of worship, as an evidence of the respect you have for Him.
Another letters to husbands is in I Peter 3:7: "In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered."
Bible references cited: Isaiah 53:7; I Peter 2:13-25; Ephesians 5:15-21; Ephesians 5: 22-24; I Peter 3:1-6; Ephesians 5:25-30; I Peter 3:7. New Living Translation.
I'm thankful our obedience down here brings God pleasure and that it is okay to obey for the purpose of winning rewards up there.
Do it for Jesus, as an act of obedience, as an act of worship, as an evidence of the respect you have for Him.
Another letters to husbands is in I Peter 3:7: "In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered."
Bible references cited: Isaiah 53:7; I Peter 2:13-25; Ephesians 5:15-21; Ephesians 5: 22-24; I Peter 3:1-6; Ephesians 5:25-30; I Peter 3:7. New Living Translation.
I'm thankful our obedience down here brings God pleasure and that it is okay to obey for the purpose of winning rewards up there.
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