Philippians 4:19
My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus
Not only was Adam given a significant, authoritative role at creation, he also enjoyed a sense of safety and security. All his needs were provided for (Genesis 1:29). Adam was completely cared for in the garden. He had plenty to eat and there was plenty for the animals. He could eat of the tree of life and live forever in God's presence. He lacked nothing.
When Adam sinned, he lost that sense of safety and security. Before, he was naked and unashamed. After, he wanted to hide from God and cover up. The first emotion expressed by fallen humanity was fear.
Safety and security is another facet of our inheritance in Christ. We have the riches of His kingdom at our disposal and His promise to supply all our needs.
Adam and Eve also experienced a sense of belonging in that perfect garden. Adam apparently enjoyed intimate, one-on-one communion with God before Eve was created. Then God said it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). So He gave Eve to Adam--and Adam to Eve--to enrich his experience of belonging.
Before the Fall, Adam and Eve had a sense of belonging. But after the Fall they felt rejected, experiencing a need to belong. It is one of our greatest needs today. Notice that what were attributes before the Fall became needs after the Fall.
I believe that a true sense of belonging today comes not only from knowing that we belong to God, but also from belonging to each other. When God created Eve He established human community. It's not good for us to be alone. Aloneness can lead to loneliness. God's preventative for loneliness is intimacy--meaningful, open, sharing relationships with one another. In Christ we have the capacity for the fulfilling sense of belonging which comes from intimate fellowship with God and with other believers.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
What Is Your Attitude?
Today's Scripture
"For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything." Ephesians 5:22-24 NLT (Also read Proverbs 31, 1 Peter 3:1-6)
Thoughts for Today
As we continue our brief look at God's design for each family member, we now turn to the wife. The analogy of Christ and the church helps us understand God's plan for the wife in the marriage and family relationship. The role of the church in submission to Christ is the guideline for the wife's role and responsibility to her husband. The wife's primary responsibility is to submit voluntarily to her husband's leadership role as the spiritual leader of the family.
These scriptures in Ephesians 5:22-33 describe a check and balance. Wives are to submit to their husbands … and husbands are to love their wives.
Consider this…
Submission and obedience are two different things. In fact, it is quite possible to obey without being submissive. Submission is more of a heart attitude thing. Obedience is action.
It is also possible to be submissive without obeying. If a husband asks his wife to do something directly contrary to God's Word, she must decline. Her first devotion should always be to God. However, she can maintain a respectful and submissive attitude even though she must decline to obey in that particular instance.
While we tend to think of submission as obeying, it is so much more. A wife should submit to her husband by showing respect … by sharing her ideas, insights and wisdom … and by partnering with him in praying for each other and for their family and demonstrating godly character in their relationship.
Prayer
Father, help me to understand my role in marriage and to be a better marriage partner. May your love and peace abound in our home. (women) Help me to submit to my husband as to the Lord. In Jesus' name.
"For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything." Ephesians 5:22-24 NLT (Also read Proverbs 31, 1 Peter 3:1-6)
Thoughts for Today
As we continue our brief look at God's design for each family member, we now turn to the wife. The analogy of Christ and the church helps us understand God's plan for the wife in the marriage and family relationship. The role of the church in submission to Christ is the guideline for the wife's role and responsibility to her husband. The wife's primary responsibility is to submit voluntarily to her husband's leadership role as the spiritual leader of the family.
These scriptures in Ephesians 5:22-33 describe a check and balance. Wives are to submit to their husbands … and husbands are to love their wives.
Consider this…
Submission and obedience are two different things. In fact, it is quite possible to obey without being submissive. Submission is more of a heart attitude thing. Obedience is action.
It is also possible to be submissive without obeying. If a husband asks his wife to do something directly contrary to God's Word, she must decline. Her first devotion should always be to God. However, she can maintain a respectful and submissive attitude even though she must decline to obey in that particular instance.
While we tend to think of submission as obeying, it is so much more. A wife should submit to her husband by showing respect … by sharing her ideas, insights and wisdom … and by partnering with him in praying for each other and for their family and demonstrating godly character in their relationship.
Prayer
Father, help me to understand my role in marriage and to be a better marriage partner. May your love and peace abound in our home. (women) Help me to submit to my husband as to the Lord. In Jesus' name.
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