DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-11-07
WRITTEN AT: Ormond Beach, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Ephesians 5:21-27
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ²¹ …. submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
²² For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³ For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. ²⁴ As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
²⁵ For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. ²⁷ He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

APPLICATION: Isn’t it interesting how people hang on to certain pieces of Scripture, and often use it out of context for their own good? For example, men will often threaten their counterparts with the phrase that wive’s are to submit to their husbands unconditionally. And while that is true, there are other parts of this Scripture that makes this all come alive and applicable. Yes, wives are to submit themselves to their husband, just as they do to the Lord. But let us examine the scriptures to determine how many times we see the Lord being referred to as ‘abusive’, ‘a drunk’, ‘high on substance abuse’, ‘a cheater’, or ‘excessive time with his guy friends’. I have no doubt that you will not find where God is referred to by any of those worldly attributes. Instead, today’s Scripture goes on to explain the role of the husband that Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, referred to in this Scripture. Notice the following: 1). The husband is the head of the wife – God did the decision making for us to help avoid arguments by husband and wife. We don’t argue that the captain is in charge of his boat, or the CEO in charge of his business, so hopefully we have no qualms with God’s decision in marriages. When God created man, He designed him in His own image. Throughout the Bible we could see that God worked with men to fight military battles, as His disciples, as ministers of the Gospel, and in various leadership roles of countries, churches and missions. Yes, God could have chosen the wife, but He didn’t. 2). God examples before mankind by demonstrating His love, sacrifice, leadership, and through His very own precious Son, that His children – the church, was most important to Him. He wants men to follow suit with His example, in being the leader of his wife and family through the good, bad and challenging times of life. Perhaps when there seems to be a strain on our marital relationship, we should step aside with God and ask for wisdom to see where we have departed from His example and His guidance as good godly leaders in our homes. 3). Be willing to sacrifice in order to see our wives be blessed and enjoy the benefits of God’s chosen child. And 4). Be willing, and plan to shower our wives with the Word of God, for this is the Truth of all God intended for us. God did this to purify His church, and so should we as we endeavor to redeem our wives. Friends, when husbands endeavor to be all that God intended for them to be, then we could expect wives to take note, respect, love and obediently follow the leadership of their godly husbands. Unfortunately, many are choosing to cohabitate and not follow the plan ordained by the God who created them. God has a plan for you my friend, please listen to His voice and be obedient to His commands. He has your very best interest at heart. In whatever role you assume today – husband or wife, I pray that God will open your eyes to all that He intended for you to do in obedience to His Word and in following His example. Show the world that God’s not dead, He’s very much alive – even in our marriages, so that He might be glorified.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God designed us, and He has a plan in mind for how we might enjoy life together in the form that He created – husband and wife. He also placed an order to how our marriages should work. Thank God when we allow Him to make such decisions and not depend on the mess we would make of things when done in our own selfishness and pride.

PRAYER: I am so thankful for the lady You placed in my life to be my forever wife, Lord. Thank You for blessing us with 47 years of happiness, ministry and a living testimony to all who may wonder if marriage still works. Lord, I have so many friends who wish they could experience such happiness as You have blessed my wife and I with. Please Lord, touch Your people once again today. Show them that in the same way You designed and created each one, You have also designed a plan for our happiness, and a guide for our decisions so that we could portray Your goodness in every part of our lives. The unsaved need to see Jesus in our marriages also, and I’m sure they are watching for how well we, individually do in following Your commands. Please reignite a fire inside of Your children today, that Your way is always best, and that we should be obedient to the One who created us for His good purpose. Please bless marriages again today, Lord. For our future generation will carry on the work that they discover in us today. Be lifted up Lord, for You are the King of glory. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!