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The Peculiar Thing about It

Words of Faith Final

The Peculiar Thing about It

Words of Faith 4-12-2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

www.faithfellowshipweb.com

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Ephesians 5

[21] Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. [22] Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. [24] Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

 

    Okay, so this matter of headship is not about bossing others around.  It is about being accountable for your family.  It is about being the most vulnerable and exposed point of contact for your family.  It is about leading as Christ led, as a servant of the family. Just as Christ is the prominent or exposed part of the church– the husband is the point of influence and protection. Just as Christ is the Servant-Redeemer, so the husband leads, and the body follows the head. 

    The response may come up-- "Well, I would submit to my husband if he acted in the way that Jesus did."  Good point.  Honestly, it is easy to submit to Jesus when we understand how much he loves us and gave for us.  In the same way, it is easy for a woman to submit to a husband that she knows loves her sacrificially.  Paul will get to that next.

     But is also important to notice that a wife who has asked the Lord to bind her as "one" with her husband in reverent submission to Christ, is called to submission... to her own husband.  That may seem obvious.  Clearly, a wife is not to submit to any other husband.  But the Greek here is interesting-- idiois andrasin-- means "your unique husband."  The word "idios" means own, private, or separate.  It also means peculiar or of unusual origin.

      Think about that.  It sounds as if the Spirit knew exactly the sort of struggles we would have.  The call is to for a wife to submit to her husband no matter how peculiar he may be. He is unique, and like none other.

       Wives will sometimes counter-- "You don't know my husband.  He is really peculiar.  He is not your normal husband.  If only I had a better husband, things would not be so difficult."  Some might even go so far as to say-- "He is an idiot."  Scripture does not offer a loophole here.  In fact, Scripture is specific.  Submit to your "idiois andrasin" -- "your own husbands," your husband with all his peculiarities.  (And what husband has not felt like an idiot from time to time?)

      Now don't misunderstand. This does not mean that a wife should ever submit herself to abuse.  Abuse is beyond idiocy and is never God's plan for marriage or any relationship. Abuse should be met with a call for help to gain safety and sanity.

     The point here is that we cannot dismiss our responsibility in marriage simply because we have determined that the one we married is odd or peculiar.  Be under the protection of your peculiar husband.  Be under the covering of your unique husband. Appreciate the uniqueness with which God created your husband specifically for you and your family. 

     There is a call here to honor the idiosyncrasies of your husband.  A little later in this chapter, the Spirit gives this direction-- and the wife must respect her husband [33b]. Respect your husband with his unusual qualities.  This is probably the great emotional need that many have-- respect.

    The amazing thing is that when a man is respected, he is likely to respond with sacrificial love.  It is also amazing that when a wife is love sacrificially, she responds with respect and submission. 

 

    Father God, help me to strengthen the marriages around me in my life.  Help me to strengthen my own marriage and the marriages of friends and family.  Help me to find my role in loving and caring for those You have set as first priorities in my life.  In Jesus' Name.