If you’ve attended a wedding at some point in your life, I’m sure you’ve heard the scripture reference found in Ephesians 5. Yes….THAT scripture! I, personally, like the way The Message phrases it, “Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So, just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.” *Queue ladies moaning in disgust.*
Cameron and I have been waiting on the Lord for quite a few things lately. But last night, I just wanted to debate some things. We’ll just say I was in “less then a submissive mood.” As Cameron was massaging my shoulders, this scripture popped into my head. Naturally I began to debate the Lord in my spirit. (I know I’m not the only one who does this….we are human for goodness sakes.) “Lord, I don’t feel like being submissive right now. I want to challenge his opinion about this. I don’t want to respect his wishes on this area.” And then this question popped into my head, “Do you always ‘feel’ like loving your husband? Or have you “committed” to loving your husband?” Well, anyone who’s been married longer then the honeymoon phase can tell you, it’s a commitment-a choice. You’ve committed to loving him through sickness and in health. Therefore, we can conclude that love is a choice, even when our emotions say otherwise. It’s the same way with respecting and honoring our husbands. Sometimes, when you don’t feel like submitting to his authority on something, it doesn’t always mean your desire to respect him has left. That desire is just being buried with human emotions. So, we must press on through those emotions. We must commit to respect our husbands and their headship, the same way we committed to love them. You can’t expect yourself to always feel like submitting to their spiritual covering. But if we commit to do so, regardless of what our emotions are telling us, then we’ll reap the blessings that come from obeying this essential command for marriage.
Remember, God is not finished with us yet. If you believe Christ has finished His work in you, and you’re still alive, I would like your autograph as the only “perfect human being still with a heartbeat.” J Philippians 1:6 says, “being confident of this that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” We won’t get it right every time. But make a decision today, with the Lord’s help, to commit yourself fully to your husband-not just in love-but in honor and respect. You’ll be amazed at how this changes your mindset. I know I was blown away!!!
~Shanté
