Today’s focus verse is tough for me to speak on because I’m no longer in the role of a wife. I realize some may not know my story but the bottom line is…
- It wasn’t my choice to end the marriage…
- I prayed for God to save it …
- I am thankful for the 27+ years God gave us and the daughters He blessed us with …
- I am glad every day knowing that God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His presence …
- and I regret that He left and I wish I had been a better wife…
I know many who are reading this are happily married and able to speak to this passage ~ please feel free to share whatever encouraging words you may have to share on the subject. However, you will also find a link below that will direct you to the commentary from bibleref.com on this verse. It is one I believe that will be both helpful and encouraging on this very important topic for the life and health of your marriage, as God intends. I may be divorced, but I am a huge advocate for marriage and encourage any who are married to consider these words of Paul, God’s spokesman, concerning your role and that of your husband.
Remember our conversation on the journey yesterday – namely, that if we want to live like Jesus, our goal must be to bring glory to God in whatever we say and do.
The More We Know
From the Journal, Christ is All I Need, p 182 (my prayer for each of you who are married is that these words will bring hope, encouragement, and strength to you and to your marriage. Do not grow weary in doing what God has called you to do as a wife. Love your husband well, pray for him, and enjoy the blessing of your husband. May God richly bless both you and your husband as you seek to honor the Lord in your marriage relationship.)
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. – Colossians 3:18
The concept of submission to a husband has been totally despised and ridiculed in our western society. Our culture has rejected the biblical idea of different roles between men and women in marriage, and the result has been countless family breakdowns.
Yes, God’s Word tells us that men and women are equal in value, equally loved by God, and equally in need of His grace. Submission does not impact this equality. Rather, it is a choice by the wife to submit to her husband because God has made him the head of the family. He is not the head, or leader, because he is more gifted, capable, or spiritual. Rather, God has given him that authority. It’s so important to marry someone we feel we can respect and follow.
Submission means to willingly (even joyfully) surrender myself under my husband’s leadership. It means responding to him with the kind of respect that is due his position. It means doing whatever I can to help my husband do what he’s supposed to do. It means accepting the decision he makes, even if I had to state my arguments for why I disagree.
A wife is to submit as a response of obedience to Jesus, knowing that He would not ask her to do anything that would harm her. Because Jesus is still her ultimate Lord, she can never follow her husband into sin nor is she to submit to abusive behavior. Husbands are to model their actions after Christ.
It’s true that the man we are called to submit to is far from perfect. Yet, our role is to submit to him in such a way that it will be easier for him to lead and love. When things are difficult, we need to look up, put our hope in God, and ask Him to renew our respect toward our husbands.
Lord Jesus, please help me to honor you in the way I respect my husband and submit to him. Amen.
Reflection and Application
- If you are married, how can you submit to your husband by encouraging him in his God-given role of leadership?
- If you are not married, what are the main traits in a godly man you should look for?
- Spend time praying for the marriages around you and for future marriages.
Me From the Inside Out 