(part 2 in a series) - Part 1 - Joined - Alignment
Joined -
man + woman
husband + wife
God joins.
Two become one.
It's beautiful, but it's also easy to see the challenge.
2 does not equal 1
Something is changing in that equation.
God has created something new in the joining.
It's a special design, and He has described and prescribed how it works.
The creator always knows the most about how the something works.
And a flawless Creator will WOW you on every turn.
There is a purpose in every detail.
There is a special joy when life is synced to the plan.
The alignment of marriage opens a unique outpouring of the Spirit.
The glory of the LORD is spread and revealed in a miraculous way.
With alignment (God's way) being the goal . . .
Who does what?
How and why?
God has spoken His order.
He has outlined the obedience -
but there is no script.
A script has details.
A script gives actions and puts words in your mouth.
If you follow a script, you're an actor.
Scripts detach us from reality.
Scripts are a facade.
God's plan is genuine and personal.
God's plan is about covenant.
God's plan guides roles, positions, and attitudes.
God's plan is YOU choosing the joy of His design.
YOU choosing to give you.
YOU are yourself, gifted to and serving another.
Both serve. Both love. Both give.
The man and the woman uniquely.
Submission is the position of the woman.
It's a beautiful place.
A place for the strong and the meek, the bold and the mild.
All women are suited for this position, because God
is the Creator of the union and the persons.
Attitude is a major factor in submission.
Some women have misunderstood submission by assuming there is a script.
A wife is not typecasted to play a part. It's not a mold of one personality type.
It looks different across marriages, but it is an attitude of respect.
It is a work of self-control.
It's a positioning of help and honor.
All of these motives and commitments begin in prayer.
For me, it's praying for my husband with arms lifted high -
raising him to the throne.
Asking the LORD to lead through him.
Asking the LORD to speak through him.
God works in me deeply from that position.
And the LORD answers.
God knows women - or any person - will not submit naturally.
It's hard to show true respect 100% of the time,
especially as life reveals our faults.
We fight pride constantly, but the order has purpose.
The order does not diminish a woman's voice, aptitude, or value.
It is a functional role that proves over and over to be very fruitful and deeply fulfilling.
Leading has been harmed and weakened by the scripts people try to write.
Quality, productive leadership is deeply rooted in the heart of a man.
God knows the tendencies of a man, so He makes it very clear that the man should love.
Pride makes women covet the leadership role, but that's because we have missed the description given by the Creator.
The love God requires of this leader is to be the reflection of the unselfish sacrifice of Jesus.
Love is a completely different word, an extreme commitment, when you put Jesus behind it.
God says, you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church.
Women, get your jealousy in check!
If that's the standard for leadership, step down and let the man try!
And, seriously, the prayer mentioned earlier - he needs it.
God is asking a lot.
Let's get under our men and lift them up.
Let's honor every effort.
Let's ask the LORD to equip and inspire our husbands,
and then join them and affirm them.
----
If your husband is out of line or just struggling, pray.
Let the LORD speak. Let the LORD work.
Don't jump to speak. Don't let your words fly out.
There is a time and place for words, but let the LORD guide.
Trust the LORD with His work, and do not be quick to correct.
God has encouragement for your faithfulness.
2 Timothy 3:1-2
Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
Husbands also,
your love, every effort over time,
brings the work of the Spirit and the Gospel into your family.
Ephesians 5:25-28
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Real love changes things.
Real love brings a response.
Let love be the leading action to make Christ known.
----
I can't tell you what it's like to lead, but I can tell you
what it's like to follow a Godly leader.
The LORD has helped my submission and I have seen Him place and grow
the love of a servant leader in my husband.
Submission is easiest and even spontaneous to that Christ-like love.
God knew that.
That's why there is no script.
Comments