Marriage Reflection
We have all rebelled against authority at some point. Whether it be parents, teachers, coaches, employers, etc, it is hard to submit to those we don't agree with. I have always swayed towards resisting authority whenever it is unfair. I love movies about uprising against injustice. But now that I am in Christ all my ways must change. This means I am to only take a stand against evil doers as the spirit of the Lord leads.
The attitude of sinful man is rebellion. The attitude of those who love God is submission. It is one thing to submit to God who is perfect but submitting to imperfect people whom we don't always agree with, is rather difficult. Here in Ephesians 5:21 "it says submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." So submission is not just a way to honor someone but the way we honor God. We honor God by trusting Him. Will one might respond, "I have no problem trusting God it is people I don't trust." Trusting God is trusting those whom God has placed in authority, such as David did with Saul.
The rest of Ephesians 5 gives a picture of submission through the eyes of husband and wife. God desires marriage to be the ultimate picture to the world of what relationship with Him looks like. So we see that "wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, for husbands are the head of there household as Christ is head of the church." It is not about man being above woman, it is about Christ being above all, and each following their particular role. Husband represents the headship of God, Wife represents His body, the church. So as the church is to be submitted to God in everything so is the wife to the husband (vs. 24), nothing should be done outside of union with each other.
Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church giving themselves fully to her, helping her become holy and clean by the cleansing of His Word (vs. 25). So we have to see our role with our wives as Christ role is with us. We must remember though Christ does not force His will on us, it is His loving kindness that draws us to Him. So husbands cannot force their wives into submission but believe that through their acts of kindness a loving response will with time naturally progress. Preaching to our wives is not going to change them, living the word is what will draw them closer to Him. Loving our wives should be no different than loving ourselves (vs. 28), since the two have become one (vs. 31).
Ephesians 5:33 says again to the husband to love his wife as he would himself and for the wife to respect her husband. Men are often self motivated and self centered, so to love their wife as themselves means to include her in everything as their equal partner, no longer living independent but dependent on her for support, advise, assistance, etc. While men's love language is respect, they need to know their wife trusts them and believes in the direction they are heading. When each responds right in the language of love, cohabitation takes place, and through holy union the glory of God is seen.
The attitude of sinful man is rebellion. The attitude of those who love God is submission. It is one thing to submit to God who is perfect but submitting to imperfect people whom we don't always agree with, is rather difficult. Here in Ephesians 5:21 "it says submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." So submission is not just a way to honor someone but the way we honor God. We honor God by trusting Him. Will one might respond, "I have no problem trusting God it is people I don't trust." Trusting God is trusting those whom God has placed in authority, such as David did with Saul.
The rest of Ephesians 5 gives a picture of submission through the eyes of husband and wife. God desires marriage to be the ultimate picture to the world of what relationship with Him looks like. So we see that "wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, for husbands are the head of there household as Christ is head of the church." It is not about man being above woman, it is about Christ being above all, and each following their particular role. Husband represents the headship of God, Wife represents His body, the church. So as the church is to be submitted to God in everything so is the wife to the husband (vs. 24), nothing should be done outside of union with each other.
Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church giving themselves fully to her, helping her become holy and clean by the cleansing of His Word (vs. 25). So we have to see our role with our wives as Christ role is with us. We must remember though Christ does not force His will on us, it is His loving kindness that draws us to Him. So husbands cannot force their wives into submission but believe that through their acts of kindness a loving response will with time naturally progress. Preaching to our wives is not going to change them, living the word is what will draw them closer to Him. Loving our wives should be no different than loving ourselves (vs. 28), since the two have become one (vs. 31).
Ephesians 5:33 says again to the husband to love his wife as he would himself and for the wife to respect her husband. Men are often self motivated and self centered, so to love their wife as themselves means to include her in everything as their equal partner, no longer living independent but dependent on her for support, advise, assistance, etc. While men's love language is respect, they need to know their wife trusts them and believes in the direction they are heading. When each responds right in the language of love, cohabitation takes place, and through holy union the glory of God is seen.
