February 17 Submit to One Another

Esther 2:15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
 
TO submit is to obey in the sense you are lying down before another in subject to another’s will. We looked in the previous two lessons on first, Jesus’ submission to the cross; then second, we looked at the Bible’s words on submitting to Jesus’ church. In Jesus’ life and death, we can see how he obeyed the Father’s will to even literally lie down in death before the Father.
     Jesus’ submission is truly the place where our understanding of submission to one another begins. You can only know the depths of submission to one another when we understand Chest’s profound sacrificial submission for your eternal soul. Here are three relationship submission teachings from Ephesians:
     Ephesians 5:21 “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Your submission to others is centered on our worship of Jesus.
     Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” Perhaps the most rejected Scripture in our culture, this teaching notes the order of the Christian family. More on this below (and more in a few weeks as I write on Ephesians.). Again, submission begins with our relationship to Jesus.
     Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
     I hope you see in these Scriptures why I said, “Jesus’ submission is the point where the reality of submission to one another begins.” Men and husbands, note this: You are to be as Jesus.
     Yes, a common quote of dominant men over women is, “wives submit to your husbands”. And in turn a common objection to Christianity is “wives submit to your husbands.” Great distortions of God’s Word are based on misunderstanding this teaching. Let’s learn about and submit to its meaning.
     Paul’s inspired teaching from the Holy Spirit is not about men dominating women. In fact, it is a way Paul is teaching, urging and admonishing men to submit their lives to Christ so that their wives are able to submit to them. This order is to fulfill the God-ordained family structure.
     Know this key point, men: You first must be worthy of your wife’s Christ-like submission. Called to lead your wife and children, you must strive with your heart, mind and soul to follow Jesus. Give up the things that separate you from Jesus. Focus on the things that draw you to him. Your wife can only truly submit to you if you first submit to the Lord as the Lord Jesus submitted to the cause of the church.
     Some see this as a teaching that defines separation and gender order for dominance. But it is just the opposite. The Bible’s submission teachings define a unified and coherent marriage, purposeful to model Jesus to children and to the church. Submission begins with obedience to our submissive Lord. He did so. Men, you must, also. Wives, so should you.
     We’ll continue tomorrow with more on the man’s role of leadership.
 
Prayer: Help me, Holy Spirit, to trust the power of your teachings. In Jesus’ name, amen.