SUBMIT ONE TO ANOTHER

Text: Ephesians 5:21-33

Submission is defined as submitting or yielding to someone by accepting their authority over you. It is synonymous with obedience, compliance, yieldedness, surrender, humility and meekness. It is one word that always connotes an inherent quality of coercion, sufferance or oppression. However, this is not God's pattern. 

Rather, He commands submission for everyone, both the husbands, wife, children, employees and employers. He wants it to be an attribute and lifestyle for those that have put faith in his son Jesus. Just as Jesus submits to the father in all things, we ought to submit to one another, out of love, preferring and esteeming one another to ourselves. Hence, in verse 21 we read "submit one to another out of reverence for Christ". This submission is not only required in marriage but the verses we study today only focused on the marital situation. Tomorrow, we see the submission extending to parents, children and employees. 

Wives, are the ones to whom the command is given to submit in the marriage situation. We can't change the Bible no matter how hard we try. Despite the fact that we live in the dispensation of Grace and in the period of women emancipation and feminism, any woman who wants to be the peculiar woman of Titus 2:14, zealous for every good, work will submit to her husband no matter the situation of her marriage. It does not matter if your husband loves you back the way verses 25-33 tried to elaborate. The call and command is on the wife to remain submissive for the sake of Christ. The truth is that the taste of the pudding is in the eating. It is actually when you're submissive to your unloving and uncaring husband that the true test of your obedience to the lord is revealed.

The point is that for marriages to last, both the man and the woman must work hard at keeping their various expected responsibilities. Unfortunately, expectations are usually cut short. There is always disappointments. But for, a woman who knows that her primary or basic assignment is to her home will ensure that her commitment and obedience to Christ starts from there a well.  It begins with her husband and children whether the man is good or bad, a believer or not. Sadly, many christian women make the mistake of being overtly obedient and more submissive to their pastors than to their own husbands. Do not forget; "charity begins at home".

Wife, always remember that every marriage relationship is unique. You must make your own marriage work by submitting and yielding to God first and then to your own husband. There is no need arguing the point. It is to the woman that the command is given. To the man the command to love is given. The two commands ought to complement each other  to make the journey smooth. However, it doesn't have to depend on what the other person does. It is your salvation. You must work it out with fear and trembling. And as you do, you can be sure that the reward will be far  greater than whatever present suffering you may go through. 

PRAYER: Father, may You grant all women who are passing through difficulties in their marriages the Grace to yield to You first. Give us the strength to persevere and the willingness to obey, trusting that You knows the best and  will never fail, through Christ Jesus our lord, Amen.