The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 22 March 2019 – Patterned Like Christ
TOPIC: Patterned Like Christ
READ: Ephesians 5:21-23 King James Version (KJV)
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
THE MESSAGE:
We live in a generation where the family has been threatened by divorce, wrong philosophies, separation, etc. In spite of this, the word of God is clear and unchanging about expected patterns of behaviour to achieve Christian unity in the home.
These regulations are not based on circumstances, but should be adhered to out of reverence for Christ (verse 21). It is out of this reverence, that husbands and wives should be subject to each other in spite of their cultures (verse 21).Wives are enjoined to submit and adapt to their husbands as the appointed head of the family, irrespective of their status, education, experience, etc.
Husbands are to love their wives in two ways: as Christ loved the Church (verse 25) and as their own bodies (verse 28). Note that no wife is a perfect package but is given to the husband (likened to the Church and Christ) to sanctify by words and deeds to make her glorious to Himself (verses 26-28)
Finally, absolute unity is required (verse 31) signifying detachment from every culture, family ties, peer pressure and environmental influences that negate biblical principles of relationship for marriage. It is our work as believers to return to this pattern to restore the lost glory of the family in our generation.
Prayer: Lord please help me to adhere to biblical roles stipulated for my position in the family, in Jesus’ name.
