Marriage 102
Submission

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:22-25

Key Verse: Ephesians 5:21

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Submission is a dirty word in our society if we are talking about marriage relationships. No matter how it’s explained, most people walk away thinking it is a negative approach. Before writing about the marriage relationship, in our Key Verse for today, the Apostle Paul wrote about mutual submission. Let’s look at its meaning in the church and then relate it to marriage.

First, if I submit to you, I am open to you. I am open to your ideas and desires. Submission need not mean I agree or take on your values, but I must be open and ready to understand them. This is true in the submission in our marriages. We are to be open to our spouse’s ideas and desires. We may never agree, but marriage is more about openness than agreement.

Second, as a Christian brother or sister, I believe we need to be accountable to our spouses. Our behavior, entertainment, spending of money and friendships should all be an open book! This kind of accountability will allow for submission to our spouse’s opinion of our behaviors, which often saves us from much heartache. Submission is not a negative. It is our safeguard and channel to true intimacy.

Father, thank you for my spouse. Forgive me when I take them for granted. Remind me to submit to them throughout this day! In Jesus’ Name, amen.