… to be my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.”
The word introduced into the Book of Common Prayer in 1549 is not often heard in wedding services. I do love the word Troth though!
I am sure we can think of lots of reasons and seasons when a wife shouldn’t ‘obey’. However, it doesn’t take away from the fact that ….
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. Ephesians 5 v 22
In the context of being filled with the Spirit the Apostle says we should all submit to one another. He then continues to give us some of the places where this should be seen.
In our community of worship, our churches, submit.
And then in our homes.
Remember the word, Hupotasso is:
- Present tense meaning it is calling for a continued action, repeatedly.
- The middle voice so the subject both initiates and participates in the action of submission.
What does submit mean?
Continually initiate and then participate in the following:
Lose the argument;
Love like no other;
Laud him with worship.
Continually because the longer you live with him in the highs and lows of life then it will become more difficult to do so at certain seasons of his life.
Initiate because if you wait for him it may never happen.
Participate because if it looks like you do this grudgingly then you might as well not bother.
BUT …
“… as you do to the Lord.”
So this cannot be achieved without firstly the filling of the Holy Spirit and secondly your focus on Jesus and what is bound within the will of the Lord. So this is not only how the wife can submit but also the protection of doing so. This is not blind obedience nor hurtful inequality or destructive inferiority. But it is Jesus who is the motivator behind this. That He might be seen in you. His work demonstrated by you towards your husband. His hand guiding you as you submit.
(Please note this is obviously part of a series which husbands also need to submit and actually do far more! so read my further blogs as we continue through this book of Ephesians)
Missions Paul 