"What Is Your Attitude?" - Living Free - Nov. 17, 2009
What Is Your Attitude?
Today's Scripture
"For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything." Ephesians 5:22-24 NLT (Also read Proverbs 31, 1 Peter 3:1-6)
Thoughts for Today
As we continue our brief look at God's design for each family member, we now turn to the wife. The analogy of Christ and the church helps us understand God's plan for the wife in the marriage and family relationship. The role of the church in submission to Christ is the guideline for the wife's role and responsibility to her husband. The wife's primary responsibility is to submit voluntarily to her husband's leadership role as the spiritual leader of the family.
These scriptures in Ephesians 5:22-33 describe a check and balance. Wives are to submit to their husbands … and husbands are to love their wives.
Consider this…
Submission and obedience are two different things. In fact, it is quite possible to obey without being submissive. Submission is more of a heart attitude thing. Obedience is action.
It is also possible to be submissive without obeying. If a husband asks his wife to do something directly contrary to God's Word, she must decline. Her first devotion should always be to God. However, she can maintain a respectful and submissive attitude even though she must decline to obey in that particular instance.
While we tend to think of submission as obeying, it is so much more. A wife should submit to her husband by showing respect … by sharing her ideas, insights and wisdom … and by partnering with him in praying for each other and for their family and demonstrating godly character in their relationship.
Father, help me to understand my role in marriage and to be a better marriage partner. May your love and peace abound in our home. (women) Help me to submit to my husband as to the Lord. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from…
Committed Couples: God's Plan for Marriage & the Family by Dr. Jimmy Ray Lee. Whether in a private or group setting, couples will be encouraged spiritually and romantically as they research biblical principles that affirm their vows. This book can help every married couple grow spiritually and emotionally in their relationship. It is also a great help for engaged-to-be-married couples.
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