"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them."
Colossians 3:18-19 (ESV)
We remember as we read this text, that Paul is applying the glorious truths he has previously presented. Jesus has come to earth to fulfill the promises of the Old Testament and to create for himself a people who have the capacity to live differently. They are no longer limited by the selfishness of fallen humanity. They can actually access the same source of life that was in Christ as he walked the earth. They are not bound by the scars and abuses of the past. They can walk in a freedom that only resurrection can offer.
As this applies to the family, we see a hope that the constant struggle between husband and wife since the Garden of Eden, can cease. We remember that part of the curse resulting from mankind's original sin included the inevitable conflict regarding the roles of husband and wife (Genesis 3:16-17). But with the fresh in-breaking of the Kingdom of God with Jesus' life and death, there is hope of restored relationships. Now husbands and wives can accept their roles and enjoy the union of marriage the way it was originally designed. Wives can submit to their husbands the way Christ submits to the Father. Husbands can love their wives unconditionally like Jesus loves the church.
As we stated before these are not verses to be used as leverage by selfish, insecure people to get their way. These are invitations to enter a whole new arena of possibility. Submitting and unconditionally loving does not come naturally. These are actions possible only by faith -- in the power of the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. It is useless to hold these New Testament commands over the heads of men and women who have no intention of living to honor God. Independent, selfish people will reinterpret or ignore these commands. We have watched as some have argued that this scripture is outdated and that Paul was either a wounded ex-husband, or a prejudiced Jewish male. It is not uncommon to reject the standard when we realize we can't reach it. Jesus submitted without fear and loved without conditions. We can do that now that his Spirit lives in us.
There is a lot of discussion today about the makeup of the family unit. There are obvious attacks on the family by those who want to redefine reality to suit their own desires. As we fight on the legislative front to keep sane definitions of the family, the greatest hope to save the family is the gospel. When men and women realize that Jesus has come to restore his design to marriage, as well as the individual, we can enjoy the union as God first envisioned it. Only those who trust Christ for grace will be able to live such "normal" lives. But these will give hope to those who have resigned themselves to settle for something less.
The Christian home is a possibility. Grace has made it so. You must not give up on it. Husbands, God did not give up on you. Now he has commissioned you to duplicate his love to your wife.
SYNERGY - Better Together: October 01, 2010 click for more > Five Pillars of New Testament Discipleship: : October 15, 2010 click for more > Family Reunion Retreat: December 03, 2010 click for more >
