Shalom!

Peace, first of all, is granted by God, and secondly, as a reward for obedience (Lev 26:3, 6).

There’s no peace -only fear of punishment- for the disobedient because of the lack of the intimate presence of God, who is love (Hab 1:13; 1 Jn 4:18). But for those who have either obeyed or truly repented for their disobedience, we’ve been freed from the yoke of slavery to sin (which results in death) and we’re ‘enabled to walk with heads held high’ to serve our Lord unhindered (Lev 26:13; Ro 6:23; Gal 5:1, 13).  

Throughout the Old Testament there’s an ebb and flow of the people of Israel enjoying peace and prosperity because of their obedience to God (and often His leaders), and suffering from death, lack, and destruction because of their disobedience (from Judges to 2 Chronicles; Jn 10:10). (Remember:  Although the Lord is merciful and long-suffering, there’ll be a Day of Judgment for all of us where we’re given the wages of all that we’ve done on earth, whether good or bad [2 Pe 3:9; 2 Co 5:10; Ac 3:19].)  

‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ (Ro 15:13).  

(See:  Nu 6:26; 25:12; Dt 20:10; Jdg 3:11, 30; 5:31; 6:24; 8:28; 1Sa 7:14; 2Sa 10:19; 1Ki 2:33; 1Ch 22:9; Job 22:21; Ps 29:11; 119:165; Pr 16:7; Isa 9:6; 26:3; 54:10; Jer 30:10; Mt 5:9; Jn 14:27; Ro 1:7; 2:10; 5:1; 8:6; 1Co 14:33; Gal 5:22; Eph 2:14; 6:15; Php 4:7; Col 1:20; 3:15; 1Th 5:33; 2Th 3:16; Heb 13:20; Jas 3:17; 1Pe 3:11)

Submission In Marriage

Submit- to yield oneself to the authority or will of another; to defer to or consent to abide by the opinion or authority of another; capitulate; concede (m-w.com). 

The rebellious, in heart, took fight at the very sight of the word, but I see you’re still with me, so… 

Chapter five of Ephesians speaks of submission, starting first with the submission of all ‘children of the light’, which tells us to be imitators of God and Christ, living a life of love that is characterized by sacrifice, and to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (v. 1-2, 21).  Lord, help us all with this one!  Submitting is something that goes against our prideful nature, but this is how we prove ourselves to be children of God because saying isn’t the same as doing.  This mutual submission is shown in a ‘conciliatory attitude’ that is ‘associated with the filling of the Spirit’ (NIV note on v. 21).  We should seek to give the advantage instead of taking advantage. 

The following passage, verses 22 to 33 -titled ‘Wives and Husbands’ in my Bible- speaks of the sacrifices each spouse should make, and be willing to make in a marriage.  Wives are commanded to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, not meaning the husband stands instead for the Lord in the marriage, but that a wife is to submit to her husband as an act of submission to the Lord (v. 22 and NIV note).  I’ll also point out that the word ‘as’ in this context most likely means ‘to the same degree or amount’, which leads me to believe that the wife is to submit to her husband, in that he himself is submitting to the Lord (This is in reference to character, as no one but Jesus has lived a perfect life.).  We’re told that nothing, no one, or nowhere precedes God, and that includes a husband (Rev 1:8). 

Verse 23 continues, ‘For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior’.  This verse explicitly states the cost of being a husband, or ‘head’ (director; leader; m-w.com) in a marriage:  sacrifice your life!  Jesus did so, in life and death.  All he did was for his bride, the church.  It also places the responsibility of leadership on the husband.  ‘Now the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything’ (v. 24).  The church is defined by its submission to Christ.  So, if an assembled group of people aren’t submitting to Christ, they can’t truly call themselves a church, just as a headless body ceases to live.  So, what do we call a woman who’s not submitting to her husband, or who’s not the head of his wife?

We, the Church, have power when we submit to the Lord. Just as the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective, so is a submissive wife in her marriage (Jas 5:16).  Husbands may be won over without words by their wives’ behavior, beauty of their inner selves, and their gentle and quiet spirit (which is of great worth in God’s sight; 1 Pe 3:1-5).  This submission is seen as powerful, not weak, because only a strong woman can submit.  Women who fail to do so, are motivated by fear -the fear of losing control- but the previous verses explain how control may be gained by submission (1 Pe 3:6).  Surely, faith in God, and his way opposes this fear.   

Now back to husbands, verse 25 to 27 tell of the care given by Christ to the church for its overall wellbeing.  For a husband to care for his wife, is to care for himself, since they are one flesh (v. 28-31; Ge 2:24).  And is self-preservation wasn’t enough reason to care for a wife, failure to do so will result in hindered prayers (1Pe 3:7).

The profound truth of the union of Christ and his ‘bride’, the church, is beyond unaided human understanding.  It’s not that the relationship between husband and wife provides an illustration of the union of Christ and the church, but there’s a basic reality it, with marriage being a human echo of that relationship (from NIV note on v. 32).  Although the church is illustrated as the body of Christ, he’s independent of it.  Christ won’t cease to exist without followers, as a true marriage would without the two living as the Word instructs.

In closing, ‘In the Lord, however, woman isn’t independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.  For as a woman came from man, so also man’s born of woman.  But everything is from God’ (1 Co 11:11-12).

Bottom line:  We need each other y’all!             

Grieving God

I was just thinking about how we attempt to misuse God (and trust me when I tell you, it’s only an attempt) when we treat him like a genie, who’s only useful for granting wishes (I had a little writer’s block).  But God demands that we love him, deeply respect him, and do what he tells us to do.  Our obedience is his due, and our duty, in love (Ecc 12:13; Pr 3:6; Lk 10:27).  And when we don’t do what he tells us to, God isn’t merely angered, but saddened (Gen 6:5-6, 11-12). 

Yes, our motivation for doing God’s will should be in love.  And that includes a desire not to sadden our God who wants only the best for us (Jer 29:11).  I say this to encourage, not only you, but me as well:  Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God by choosing to do wrong; don’t burden him (Eph 4:30; Isa 43:24).  He will not stand for it (Heb 10:26-31).  Have enough faith in God to obey him (Ro 1:5).

God has given us the ability, in him, not to give in to the temptation to sin (1 Co 10:13).  So, let’s throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Heb 12:1).  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that we will not grow weary and loose heart.  In our struggle against sin, we’ve not yet resisted to the point of shedding our blood (Heb 12:3-4).  Jesus suffered way more than he’s asking any of us to, which should be encouragement when we’re tired and tempted to become disheartened. 

Have an appropriate relationship with God.  Give him the honor and reverence that belongs to him (Failure to do so is sinful).  Don’t grieve God by believing the lie of pride that says he’s here to serve us.  He is not a dag-on genie!