“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21) . . . [Paul] is declaring that everything he is about to say about marriage assumes the parties are being filled with God’s Spirit. Only if you have learned to serve by the power of the Holy Spirit will you have the power to face the challenges of marriage. (Hardcover, pp. 50–51; paperback, pp. 47–48)
LORD AND SERVANT. Marriage is not meant to be a transactional relationship, where I only give and stay involved if I am getting a good return on my investment. Rather, when each party in a marriage submits to the role to which he or she has been called, they do it out of reverence for Christ, not because of coercion by another human being. Husbands who accept their role of servant leadership when they would prefer to remain passive and wives who submit to their roles as suitable helpers when they might prefer to be more assertive should do it for the glory of Christ. And in the end each role is taken on out of a desire to emulate Jesus, who was both Lord and Servant of the covenant, as we love and build up our spouse.
Reflection: Men, are you passive in your role in the marriage and in the home? Does it frustrate your wife? Have you asked her? Women, are you frustrated in your role in the marriage and in the home? What about it frustrates you? Have you offered it to God as a way of glorifying him, or have you had your role imposed on you by cultural forces? Have you talked to your husband about what frustrates you?
Thought for prayer: Meditate on Philippians 2:7 and ask God to help you “take the very nature of a servant” for your spouse as Christ did for you.