Devotion 4: The Example

Stephen Billings 

"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands." Ephesians 5:22 

When I was growing up, I loved to play sports. In any free time I had, you could find me shooting hoops, playing baseball, or hitting golf balls in my backyard. I naturally enjoy playing sports. One of the reasons for this is because of my dad. My dad encouraged me to play sports and would join me whenever he could. A big part of the reason I played basketball in high school was because my father played. 

However, in high school, I began to play for a coach whose leadership I quickly began to question. The coach and I didn't seem to get along. I always had great relationships with coaches in the past, but for some reason, I just did not like this one coach in particular. I found myself beginning to dislike playing basketball. I did not want to respect and follow the leader of my team, so I slowly lost interest in the game. 

Ephesians chapter five presents a challenge to believers in Jesus Christ to "be imitators" (Ephesians 5:1) of their Creator. This means that we who choose to follow Jesus need to be striving to follow the example that Christ has left before us. One of the ways we are to do that is by walking in love (Ephesians 5:2). The author of the book of Ephesians (Paul), challenges both men and women to be imitators of Christ in their marriage relationships by asking women to "submit" or respect their husbands leadership and for men to love their wife as Christ loved the church (live sacrificially unto the Lord). 

As a kid and in high school, I wanted to play basketball because my father played. I wanted to be like my dad so I strived to do the things which he did. Christ desires for us to be like Him so we should strive to live like He did. This flows into each and every part of our lives, even our marriages. I will be honest, as a father of three wonderful children and husband to an amazing wife, my wife and I sometimes fail at our responsibilities of submitting (role of the wife) and loving as Christ loved the church (role of the husband). 

As the leader in my home, it can be difficult to live sacrificially therefore not making it easy for my wife to respect my leadership within our home. Just as it was difficult for me to follow the leadership of my coach. 

Foundational Family Blueprint Activity  

Encouragement 

As we focus on the wife's role within the marriage relationship, I understand that respecting leadership is not always easy. However, Christ has laid out a perfect example for us in His life of living in obedience to His heavenly Father. While following Christ's example or the leadership of one's husband may not be easy, there is love, grace, and compassion that can be found in the cross of Jesus Christ who died so that our shortcomings could be forgiven, and eternal life with Christ secured if we choose to declare Jesus to be our Lord.