Today's readings are 2 Kings 4.8-22 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Kings+4.8-22 ), 2 Kings 4.32-37 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Kings+4.32-37 ), and Ephesians 5.15-33 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Eph.+5.15-33 ).
We realize this is a fallen world. It doesn't take a very careful look around to see that people suffer and die, that they struggle, often against one another, and that these struggles result in failure, at least normally for at least one party in the struggle. And our nations, our governments, our churches, even our families are subject to these struggles. Paul brings these relational struggles into focus in Ephesians 5. Notice how our passage begins with the idea of each individual minding his walk, then says that we should all submit to one another. Then he focuses directly on a husband and wife.
As an aside, Ephesians 5.21 should be read in light of 5.22. The Bible does not teach that everyone submits to everyone else. In general we submit ourselves to the desires of others. But specifically, husbands lead their wives, who submit to them.
Look at the kind of nurturing headship and submission we see within this husband and wife, one flesh, relationship. The husband is the authority over his wife as Christ is the authority of the Church. The wife submits to her husband as the Church submits to Christ. What does Christ do for the Church? Without a savior who died in our place and was raised from the dead we would have no such thing as the Christian faith. Without Christ as the head, there is no Church. And he daily nourishes, forgives, exhorts, encourages, and provides for the needs of his Church. Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church.
Now we all know that we are bad at the whole business of loving our wives as Christ loved the Church. And we are pretty bad at submitting to Christ, so we're correspondingly bad at submitting to our husbands. What do we do? Remember Jesus and his loving forgiveness. Let us confess our sins to our Lord, receive his forgiveness, and walk in that forgiveness, giving another try at loving our wives, submitting to our husbands, and loving and submitting to our Lord.
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