I want to say I am glad to see people commenting to these posts! And I have also received some personal e-mails regarding what is posted. They have all been kind, helpful, informative or encouraging. Please remember that each entry revolves around the specific verses of the day, and no one entry can stand alone without the support of the others. If you are new to the series, please go back to the previous posts on the archive link and review them all. I have clearly labeled each as a Marriage Devotion and numbered them. Also, keep in mind that my original intent was to get people looking into the Word for guidance.....not to stand as an authority. The Word and the Spirit should be each Christians final authority. But as I have traveled the web and even in my own ladies' sunday school class, I am shocked as to how many Christians have never read the entire Bible even once! That is why I have personaly chosen to quote The Living Bible by Tyndale House Publishers in this series; in the hopes that if the stilted, Shaksperion language of the King James Bible has halted anyone from exploring the Word fully, they will see that there are reliable translations that are easy to read. Now...........on to today's:
Good day to you dear Sisters! Today in Chapter 11 of our look into Corinthians, we will see God's overall plan for men and women.
"But there is one matter I want to remind you about: that a wife is responsible to her husband, her husband is responsible to Christ, and Christ is responsible to God." vs3 TLB 
When you put this verse up against what we continually hear in the world, the two do not match up. In the world we hear I, me, my, rights, equal, etc. In God's word we see a plan that always leads to put the emphisis back on God Himself. A plan that is not sheer equality. Ladies we have been brainwashed to believe that equality in and of itself will free us! The only True Freedom is in Christ! A life yielded to His Lordship! With great priveledge or rights comes great responsibility. We should rejoice that there is God, then Christ, then our dear husband to shoulder that responsibilty before us! To lighten our load. To share our burdens. To lead the way. Do you trust God to only want the best for you? Then you should trust Christ to want the best for you also, as He is the Servant of the Father. If you trust Christ's love for you, why not trust the Christian husbands devotion to you as He is under the Lordship of Christ! The only truly equal place is before the throne of grace......as we all have equal access to salvation, intercession, mercy, the Holy Spirit, etc. So while you may be "under" your husband in day to day physical living, spiritually you are on equal footing and a partner! As a child of the King of Heaven you are an equal partaker in the glory and priveledge of His Only Son. (Did you know adopted children have more rights than natural born children?)
If your husband is submitting to Christ to guide his life, you are in a blessed situation. If he is not, then you still owe him honor and respect as much as you can in all things where he does not go contrary to Christ Your Lord. And when he does contradict your Savior, you can draw all resource from Him to stand firm with Love as your guide!"God's glory is man made in his image, and man's glory is the woman. The first man didn't come from woman, but the first woman came out of man. And Adam, the first man, was not made for Eve's benefit, but Eve was made for Adam." vs.7-9 and "But remember that in God's plan men and women need each other. For although the first woman came out of man, all men have been born from women ever since, and both men and women come from God their Creator." vs 11 & 12
Can't you see the love God had for Adam when He created Eve to be his companion and helpmate?! The thoughfulness that went into His consideration of our needs and our natures?! The honor that is bestowed upon us as women, perpetuating the survival of His Creation?! Rejoice! Rejoice to be a woman! Rejoice in God's goodness! Rejoice in the provision He makes for you thru your husband!
Knowing that our husbands has a big responsibility placed on his head is very aweing and demands respect. He is accountable for every thing that goes on in his home, including the spiritual health of his family.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I submit unto one another but I always always let him have the final say and make the decision because I know ultimately he is going to be the one held accountable for that choice. If I don't agree with what he has chosen I try and point out why and show him why this or that is not sound but if he still chooses to go on with what ever it is then it is on his head but I still submit to it.
I use the example of buying a car. He wanted to buy a used car that I knew we could not afford at the time. I tried to tell him that but he wasn't hearing me. So I let him go threw the whole process of looking and doing the paper work with out nagging or being negative. When it came to signing the papers he took a night to think about it, and that is when I asked him to write down all our bills and income and how much the car is going to cost us and the added insurance. He did and came back thanking me for helping him and saving him from a big mistake and he thanked me for doing it in love and not being one of those wives who cant wait for their husbands to make a mistake so they can nag about it to the ground. It doesn't always work out that well but that is just one example.
We are going threw the same thing with maybe buying a house. I don't think it is the right time but he does. So I will go threw it with him and if he finds the right one and thinks this is what we should do I will submit to that. Because I know my husband loves me and our family and only will do what is best for us and that he does pray over everything he does I can be confidant when I submit to him. I know not every wife has that luxury.
Good post today as usual. Keep up the good work. Helen
ReplyDeleteThank you both for commenting!
ReplyDeleteTo Mary:
I have found that the best way to have my hubby do a thing is to quietly mention it one time and leave it alone. It is surprising how often a few days later, He'll submit the same idea as if it were his own! (lol) The Lord has made you wise for your years, as our hubbys do get enough stress and harping from the world and do not need added burdens from us. - Barbara