The "S" Word: Submission... Live for Him!

Read 1 Peter 3:1-7

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the Word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives...


Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life...
So that nothing will hinder your prayers.


Submissive... Surrender.... Subjection...

What thoughts arise when you read these words? Maybe words like doormat, bondage or controlled pop into your mind. Possibly your reaction stems from the world's ideas... "No one's going to tell me what to do. I am my own person. I can make my own choices." But what does God really mean when He uses the word submissive?

Considerate... Thoughtful.... Tactful...

How do you compare this group of words to the previous list? In a more positive way? If so, why? What makes this list different from the first group? Isn’t it because of the way we commonly use these words in today’s culture? What did God mean by considerate?"

When studying the Bible, it is so important to grasp the true meaning of God’s words.  We need to understand the Greek and Hebrew definitions of His words as well as the answers to who, what and why they were written. So, let's do a little investigating. You might change your ideas about the meanings of the words in today’s verses. This is actually fun! Look at scripture excavation as a way to find the keys to unlocking mysteries within God's Word.

Let's first look at 1 Peter 3: 1-6. The main focus is wives being submissive to their husbands. I used www.blueletterbible.com to look up the original meanings of some words. (If you have a smart phone you can download the app for this website.) The word used for submission in the KJV is subjection, which means to arrange under, to subordinate, to subject, put in subjection, to subject one's self, obey, to yield to one's admonition or advice. Nowhere in this definition does it say anything about the wife being a doormat or being controlled by her husband.

This word was a Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden". We just uncovered one of the keys to unlocking the submission links. As Christians we should all surrender or submit our lives to Jesus. God then directs the wife to yield to her husband’s advice and be under his authority. 

BUT, I love that Peter doesn't stop with the wife's actions. He ends with the husband's responsibilities. The husband is to be considerate and treat her with respect. Again, digging into the true meaning of the word considerate we find another hidden key. The KJV says, "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." This is very important... Knowledge means a deeper more perfect and enlarged knowledge of the Christian religion. Honor means to value and/or  respect. So as the husband dwells or lives with his wife he is called to spiritually lead his wife to a deeper walk with Jesus and to respect her.

Go back and read today’s scripture again. Notice that the verses about wives, and the verses about husbands both contain the phrase "in the same be...", which translates to "in the same way" or "likewise." In other words, both are required to participate equally in the marriage covenant. It truly is a full circle process. The wife submits. The husband spiritually leads with respect... So that your prayers are not hindered. (end of 1 Peter 3:7)

This is exciting! God loves us enough to give us marriage guidelines. By focusing on God's ways and not the world’s ideas, we understand our part in God's plan for marriage. God blesses those who submit to His instructions and lead their families to a deeper understanding of God's Word.

Challenge for the Week... Is pride getting in the way of you submitting to your husband? Are you failing, as the husband, to lead your wife in a deeper walk with Jesus? Are prayers hindered because of a neglect or misunderstanding of your role as a wife or husband? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you find your role in your marriage. Be prepared for what God shows you!

RLM News...

Reflecting Him Book Review... Please check out Kerri Sweeris' Blog book review at Living with Chronic Illness  


Reflecting Him Video Teaching Series... Available at the end of July! Check website for updates!

 

Kickoff's for Reflecting Him... Interested in Carla speaking at a  live kickoff for your Bible study in the fall? Contact Kitty Self at kitty@reflectivelifeministries.org

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From My Heart to Yours,

Carla McDougal

www.reflectivelifeministries.org