Ephesians 5-5.18.22
Marriage and Family
Scripture
Ephesians 5:21-22:
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
Observation-What does it say?
The Apostle Paul is giving a parallel between Christ and His Church to the marriage between a husband and a wife.
Understanding-What does it mean?
There is a parallel between the church and the home.
God is a God of order and the same way that there is order of submission in the church in order to be set apart from the world, there is also order of submission in the home.
Early on in the chapter, the Apostle Paul was telling the church that there should not be a hint of sexual immorality, impurity or greed. (“For this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a person is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” verse 5). Before that, He talks about following God’s example and being children of the light.
Let’s zoom out further in this chapter and go up to verse 6 in Ephesians 5-“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore DO NOT be partners with them.”
Let’s put this all together now. A healthy church is when we are submitted to Christ FIRST and then we become fruitful. The same goes for a healthy marriage. Both partners must be submitted to Christ FIRST, then healthy submission to each other occurs as a fruit of it.
Life Application
Put our marriages (and Churches) in the correct operating order by putting Christ back on the throne!
When my husband and I would hit a rough patch in our marriage, I would always recommend that we first pray and fast from food together for 3 days before seeking out additional counsel. (If additional wise counsel is needed after that, seek it out, but always seek Christ together first!)
Let us put Christ FIRST on the throne above all else, and then start to see the fruits of peace and order in the home (and the church) take place.
-Michelle Gaddi