It's Me Again God

94. Relationships

It's me again God,

I love the fact that You made us and You didn't just leave us here on earth to work everything out for ourselves. Right from the beginning You have desired to have a relationship with mankind. You cared about us so much, You sent Your only Son to die for us! How can we ever thank You? Day after day You pour out blessings and You speak to us through Your Word the Bible.

Your intent has always been for us to feel secure and loved. Many people in the world are craving this but look for it in all the wrong places! In the following passage, Paul talks about Your love for us and our submission to You but uses the example of husbands and wives, or is it the other way around? Whatever the original purpose, You speak to me about both.

Most people don't like the idea of submitting. They would rather be in authority.  Many women have objected to this concept and sadly some men have used it to their own advantage, destroying trust and forgetting about their own obligations to love as they love themselves. The interesting thing in this section of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, is seen in the first sentence. He says that the reason for submission is out of respect for Christ. The context is set and as I read on, I realise that there can be no fear in this kind of relationship where the wife devotes herself to a husband who is required to love her in the same way that Christ loves the church! I read this passage in several different translations but thought I would share The Message version:

"Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage.

No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh." This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband."
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:21-33‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Thank You Lord for the way You had Paul explain the beautiful relationship between a man and woman in marriage. Before I was married, it seemed like it would be difficult to obtain such an incredible connection with another person! Over the years, You have blessed me again and again because I have realised how easy my role and responsibility is because my husband shows such selfless love. I thank You that he has gone 'all out' in his love for me, just as You did for the church, 'a love marked by giving, not getting'.

It works so much better when we both fulfil the role designed for us —it's rather like a perfectly choreographed dance! When I consciously allow him to take the lead, it's the most enjoyable experience! It's the same with my relationship with You —when I let go of my desire to do things my own way and let You lead me, I am much happier!

Lord bless all women in Christian marriages who struggle with the thought that they are giving up too much in submitting to their husbands. May their fears vanish as they take a step of faith and allow their husbands to love them in the sacrificial way You love the church. Bless Christian husbands who have not yet learned to love their wives as You love the church. May they walk so close to You that they will know and receive Your love, then in turn love and cherish their wives. May we all remember that there is no broken thing too hard for You to mend!

Prepare all of our hearts for the relationships that are ahead of us but help us first to be thankful for the love You have for us and in humble adoration, submit to Your authority.

In Your Name and for Your glory,
Amen.