Family Love

Colossians 3:18-21 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
 
THERE’S Paul, writing in Col 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  And you say, “Great, I’m going to do that!” Then Paul writes “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”  
    What do you think, ladies? I wonder if you are you still saying, “I’m going to do that.” Submission draws pictures of husbands controlling their wives, and you see a life imprisoned by a man’s desires.
    But in truth, the way of submission is an agreement to follow God. That’s where the husband enters. Note, men, that whatever you do, whether in word or deed means you must love your wife. This is not merely with a romantic love, but this is a Godly love. You know that love, don’t you? It’s the love that caused Jesus to submit to the cross to die for you. Jesus displayed that love with his servant-like works on earth, his submission to the Father’s will and his sacrifice on the cross. Godly love is a deep, high, wide and long love that extends to every fabric of your being and relationship with your wife and children.
    Men, do your love your wife enough to die for her? Do you honor your wife because God has brought her to you? Do what is right. Teach her God’s ways and submit to her needs as well (see Ephesians 5). And men, you must be gentle and loving with your children. They, too, are God’s gifts to you.
    The family is very, very precious to God. He designed it to be the image of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father reigns. The Son submits to the Father. The Spirit acts to make known the Son. All is done in love.
 
Life Thought: Submit to God’s holy Word. Lovingly submit to one another.