Ephesians 5:22-33

I am away from home this weekend at a writing conference and missing Sunday School. One of my sweet Sunday school members quietly mention how convenient for me to out the week the passage included the dreaded “S” word.

In my young adulthood, I studied submission hoping to find something I catch reconcile to my own beliefs. Truthfully I wanted to find Paul’s error. Instead I found Peter used it too. It only takes two sources to change conjecture to truth. This was a major setback for my theology.

I reconciled these passage into my doctrine along these lines. No where does it say for women to be submissive to men. The passages indicate there is only one man to which a woman submits, her husband, I can live with this, (especially if I do not have a man in my life.) It also showed me the importance of making the right choice of a man to be my husband. Much like when the old knight says in The Last Crusade ‘Choose wisely.’

Here is what submission looks like to me. My partner says “Jump”, I do and later ask where the snake was. I respond, confidently knowing he is acting in my best interests.

If we concentrate on the emotions arising from the implications for marriage partners in these passages, we are able to sidestep the real challenge of this passage. So I have to ask, are you submitting to Jesus? Be careful before you answer. Consider the standard Jesus set for us, His place in heaven, His death on earth. Until we are willing to submit to the Trinity, we will never be able to model the marriage patterns set in this passage.

What would your relationships be like of you could model this pattern in your life? What will you to let go of in your life to fully submit to Jesus? He is waiting.