The Role Of The Father Jun 17 2012

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." - Ephesians 5:25

The media had a field day back in 1999, reporting on a new resolution about the family passed by the Southern Baptists at their convention. The statement that stirred up a hornet's nest was, "A wife is to submit graciously to the servant leadership of her husband."

Think for a moment about the statement in light of the husband and his call to servant leadership in the home. What does this mean? Servant leadership is not the autocratic, dictatorial leadership found in the world. True servant leadership means to lead like Jesus Christ. Men are to love their wives like Christ loves the church. Christ gave His life for the church. What woman would refuse this type of leadership?

Women who are willing to follow Christ are called to submit to their husbands, not because they deserve it (none of us do), but out of submission to Christ.

Men, are you willing to do that for your wife? For your children? Don't focus on what you believe your wife should be doing to submit to you; she will always resent that. Instead, first submit to the Lordship of Christ in your own life. Men, you should seek to submit to Christ. Women, you should seek to submit to Christ. You should both trust His Word to create marital harmony.

Do you have the courage to trust Christ and His Word when it comes to His plan for your marriage? In the 21st century, that calls for a radical counter-cultural faith. So who are you going to please? Christ or culture?