March 30, 2026
- djohnstoncc
- Mar 30
- 2 min read
SUBMIT OUT OF REVERENCE FOR CHRIST
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Ephesians 5:21 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
We have arrived at one of the most famous—and frequently misunderstood—passage in the New Testament. Paul has spent the last chapter teaching us how to live by the power of the Spirit. Now, he gives us the primary testing ground for that power: Marriage.
1. The Foundation: Mutual Submission
Before Paul addresses husbands or wives individually, he gives a command to everyone: Submit to one another. Submission in marriage is never a one-way street. It is the voluntary surrender of our own opinions, preferences, and "rights" for the sake of our partner. We don't make demands that demean or harm; instead, we out-serve one another. In the Kingdom, the way "up" is "down."
2. The Husband’s Headship: A Burden of Love
Paul describes the husband as the "head," but he immediately defines what that looks like by pointing to Christ.
Leadership is Responsibility, not Privilege: Christ is the head of the Church because He died for the Church. He didn't demand His position; He earned it through sacrifice.
The Price of Leadership: A man has no right to demand leadership until he has paid the price of leadership. If a husband isn't willing to surrender his own comfort and desires for what is best for his wife, he has forfeited his claim to "headship."
3. The Wife’s Response: Respect and Security
Biblical submission is not about being a servant or a slave; it is a response to sacrificial love.
The Echo of Sacrifice: When a husband lays down his life (his time, his ego, his agenda), it creates a safe environment for a wife to trust his lead.
The Power of Respect: In verse 33, Paul notes that a wife must respect her husband. Just as a wife needs to feel loved to flourish, a husband needs to feel respected to lead. When a man feels valued and encouraged by his wife, he becomes the leader God called him to be.
The Marriage Audit
When pride and selfishness enter a marriage, the order is broken.
For the Husband: Am I leading with a towel and a basin, or am I demanding to be served?
For the Wife: Am I building my husband up with respect, or am I tearing down the "head" of my home?
The Move: Identify one "preference" or "right" you have been holding onto in your marriage and "evict" it today. Choose to serve your spouse in that specific area as an act of worship to Christ.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit, help me to keep my marriage in alignment with Your plan. Forgive me for the pride and selfishness I’ve allowed to create distance. Show me my part in making this relationship a reflection of Christ and the Church. Teach us how to out-serve and out-love one another today. Amen.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
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