TODAY’S SCRIPTURE Ephesians 5:22-33
Of the twenty-three college students who responded to my recent question about the word submit, each one gave a negative response. Most of the discussion board posts were about how forcing submission is wrong, cruel, and harsh. I agree; forced submission in marriage is wrong.
Submission is a choice. It is a gift that a bride gives her groom on her wedding day. Like other gifts, it can be rescinded if it is unappreciated, abused, and mistreated. No Scripture in the Bible, Old or New Testament, teaches forced submission. No godly husband would dare attempt to force his wife into submission.
Of all the lessons about marriage that we could glean from Ephesians 5:22-33, I wish today to draw your attention to just two. First, note that wives are not called upon to submit to all men, but are called upon to “submit to your own husband” (Ephesians 5:22). My wife has chosen to submit to me, to our elders, and to her boss at work. Otherwise, other than her daily Christian duty of “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21), and to the government (Romans 13:1), she is not required to submit to anyone.
Second, a woman does not choose to submit to her husband because he’s so good; it’s because God is so good. Notice the words, “As to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). Because she submits to the Lord, she chooses to submit to her husband.
Submit is not the vulgar, four-letter word that our culture has made it out to be. Godly, Christian submission is a way of life for the Lord’s people of both genders.
Today, I will…read Ephesians 5:22-33, thinking of ways that Christian submission can be displayed as a living Bible lesson for others to witness.