Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Eph. 5:21)
Expanded Passage: Ephesians 5:22—6:9; Colossians 3:18—4:1
Our wedding day was a hot, humid August day in 1995. The Scripture passage we chose for our wedding was Ecclesiastes 4:9–12, which spoke of the power and strength in relationships. “Two are better than one” because we can help each other in the difficult seasons of life (Eccl. 4:9). Yet, relationships in our culture today are often transactional and self-centered, defined by what we can get out of the relationship, not what we are contributing to it. This week, we looked at Paul’s teaching about various redemptive relationships in our lives. Today, I want to return to the very first verse of the entire week, found in Ephesians 5:21.
In the New Testament world, relationships were defined by hierarchy and subordination. In the family, the husband ruled over his wife and children. The wives and children had few rights and little voice. Paul, though, is redefining all human relationships, including our family relationships, starting in Ephesians 5:21 by instructing us to submit to one another. Mutual submission is God’s idea for relationships, including our marriage relationships. Jesus modeled this by giving up the riches of heaven to come and sacrifice himself for us. We are called to live this way toward one another.
God, please forgive us when we are self-centered in our relationships and give us the grace and strength to submit to one another.
Mutually submit to one another within redemptive relationships.
Branden Petersen is the cofounder/pastor of Resurrection Life NYC in Manhattan with his wife, Jenn. He is also the founder and director of the urban church planting network, Global Cities Network.
