Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. – Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)

submitting to one another in the fear of God. – Ephesians 5:21 (KJV)

Theme:  God’s Guidance for Families

As we highlighted last week, the one and only God, the Creator of all things in Heaven and on Earth, the One who placed the stars in the sky and defined the very laws of physics, is the same God who designed the family.  And His designs are perfect.

Ephesians 5:21 is the first verse of a passage titled “Instructions for Christian Households” in the New International Version (NIV). Unfortunately, some people get hung up on the word “submit” used throughout this passage, thinking it somehow implies weakness or one family role exercising ruthless domination over the others. Those perspectives are just plain wrong. Submission in this context means putting the interests of our loved ones above our own personal interests, and Ephesians 5:21 makes it clear that we’re to submit humbly to each other…no matter what role we fill within the family.

Note that the reason we’re to submit to each other is “out of reference for Christ.” It’s not about one family role being more or less important than another, but about all of us being more like Christ — the same Christ who submitted to His Father’s will and gave his life as a sacrifice for us. Verses 25 and 22 further define what that means for husbands and wives…
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her – Ephesians 5:25 (NIV)
In other words, husbands are to love their wives so much that they will give up their lives for them (the ultimate form of submission), just as Christ gave his life for his church.
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. – Ephesians 5:22 (NIV)
And wives are love their husbands and support their leadership role in the family…just as we all submit to Christ’s leadership of the church.

It’s also worthy of note that, in today’s society, there are some who don’t agree with God’s design for families. They challenge His plan for husband-wife relationships, parent-child responsibilities, marriage, Godly discipline, and so on. Frankly, those who disagree with God’s design can take up their issue with the Creator when they meet with Him. As for our family, we will serve the Lord and honor His design for the family.

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