MARRIAGE ARTICLES
RELATIONSHIP PRINCIPLES |
|
The third article of this Marriage Articles series encourages you to move towards deeper marital unity through intense, genuine heart-sharing with your spouse. As you do, mutual submission will become a hallmark of your Christian marriage. |
willingly coming under others
|
an exclusively feminine characteristic;
it is a universally Christ-like characteristic.
I Peter 2-3 highlights submission through hardship of all men and women, beginning with verse 2:13:
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake.”
In verse 16, he then reminds us that we are free.
Peter outlines the submission of
- servants to masters,
- Christ to us,
- wives to their husbands, and then
- likewise (3:7) of husbands to wives.
He concludes with this instruction:
brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit.
~I Peter 3:8
as they mutually submit
through the hardships of everyday married life.
Practicing this spirit of mutual submission—first to the Lord and then to each other—within the marriage transforms the wife’s life as well as the husband’s.
When couples mutually submit, they will begin moving towards harmony and humility.
Then they can truly run the race of married life together, reflecting Christ and His Bride, the Church.
—not oppression or doormat submission—
releases husbands and wives to
LOVE.
As you value your individuality, find your identity in Christ, and communicate with love and respect, the growing Spirit of love- and life-in-you will teach you how to live the Scriptures that man often interprets legalistically.
When those hard issues arise in marriage, as they do in every marriage, be purposeful in your conduct as you willingly:
- evaluate your personal circumstances in light of what God is doing in your life.
- evaluate your personal circumstances in light of what God is doing in your spouse’s life.
- risk becoming vulnerable through sharing your heart.
- love the sinner while honestly addressing the sin; lack of accountability fosters the sin of license (I Peter 2:16).
- As we lovingly hold each other accountable in marriage, we can expect times of intense fellowship as we move towards greater unity. These are not episodes of fighting like cats and dogs, or accusing each other of wrongs, but rather times of fellowship—intense fellowship.
- We need not become doormats as wives, nor become overly assertive; we need to become like Jesus and exercise meekness/strength as we deal with relational issues head on at the appropriate time. Our husbands need not lord over us in the name of leadership; they too need to become like Jesus and exercise meekness/strength as they live with us in an understanding way.
- Don't let man’s interpretations of the powerful, Life-giving Word persuade you to give license to your spouse's flesh. Let iron sharpen iron. Trust the Lord to lead you into all truth. The truth will set you free to be cleansed and filled with His love and then used as a vessel of blessing in your marriage. Your spouse will thank you for it over time, as you hold each other’s hearts because you truly love each other with the agape love that only God can give you as you abide.
- trust that the Lord will grow you both as you submit to your spouse with the vision for unity through mutual submission to Him and each other through hardships.
you will begin to discern
when to speak and when to listen,
when to confront and when to comfort,
when to tear down and when to build up.
|
will become a heart willingly submitted to others— both a wife’s heart and a husband’s.
|
willingly coming under others
|
in Your liberating love
as they purposefully abide
and as their inward heart condition
reflects the outward conduct of Your character.
in the fear of Christ.
~Ephesians 5:21
Continue with Part 4, headship.
Return to Marriage Articles Page
