21 and submit to each other out of respect for Christ. 22 For example, wives should submit to their husbands as if to the Lord. 23 A husband is the head of his wife like Christ is head of the church, that is, the savior of the body. 24 So wives submit to their husbands in everything like the church submits to Christ. 25 As for husbands, love your wives just like Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. 26 He did this to make her holy by washing her in a bath of water with the word. 27 He did this to present himself with a splendid church, one without any sort of stain or wrinkle on her clothes, but rather one that is holy and blameless. 28 That’s how husbands ought to love their wives—in the same way as they do their own bodies. Anyone who loves his wife loves himself. 29 No one ever hates his own body, but feeds it and takes care of it just like Christ does for the church 30 because we are parts of his body. 31 This is why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two of them will be one body. 32 Marriage is a significant allegory, and I’m applying it to Christ and the church. 33 In any case, as for you individually, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and wives should respect their husbands. 6 As for children, obey your parents in the Lord, because it is right. 2 The commandment Honor your father and mother is the first one with a promise attached: 3 so that things will go well for you, and you will live for a long time in the land. 4 As for parents, don’t provoke your children to anger, but raise them with discipline and instruction about the Lord. 5 As for slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling and with sincere devotion to Christ. 6 Don’t work to make yourself look good and try to flatter people, but act like slaves of Christ carrying out God’s will from the heart. 7 Serve your owners enthusiastically, as though you were serving the Lord and not human beings. 8 You know that the Lord will reward every person who does what is right, whether that person is a slave or a free person. 9 As for masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Stop threatening them, because you know that both you and your slaves have a master in heaven. He doesn’t distinguish between people on the basis of status. (Ephesians 5:21—6:9, CEB)
There is so much in this text that is taken out of context today by so many.
Wives submit to your husbands…
How many people still hear those words at weddings? I have, and I’ve seen the look in the eyes of the spouse.
Marriage is supposed to be 50/50 right? Nope marriage is 100/100. We need to give all to the other person all the time. It isn’t about being only 50% of the relationship. It is about all of us being committed to the spouse as Christ is committed to the church. We are invested in the relationship and give 110% all the time!
We are all a part of the body and connected to each other. We need to love others as Christ loves us.
Love others and do not control them because control is not love, but love is trust and allowing others to do and be who God has created them to be. There is no control in love, but freedom. God loves us as God created us, not as God wants or needs us to be.
So do not control, but love.
Love People. Love God.
aSacredRebel 