Ephesians 5: 33b AMP: . . . and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband—that she reverences her husband—that she notices him, regards him, honors him. Prefers him, venerates and esteems him; that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly.
Titus tells the older women to teach the younger women how to love their husbands, and I have done a pretty good job of teaching you the physical aspects of that, but First are the spiritual aspects.
So, as we pause to reflect on Ephesians 5, let us first repent of our sin of ingratitude! Take a moment, if you will, to jot down a few things about your husband that you admire, the reasons you fell in love with him.. . . . . . .
Now, reflect upon the calling you have as MOPS leaders. Every leader has the fearful responsibility of seeing herself reproduced in the lives of the ones she leads—have you ever heard your children repeat things you wish they had never heard you say? Our MOPS women are learning how to be wives and mothers; do you want them to replicate you?
I realize we are all struggling along to allow God to conform us to the image of Christ, and we are growing in grace and healed in the going. None of us is there yet. . . but we should all be pressing toward the mark!
Now, also recognize that is where your husbands are, too, and cut them some slack. (Unless your husband cannot even hope to be pressing on to perfection until he is in relationship with the One Who makes us perfect. These wives need to covered with prayer, for they are in spiritual warfare for the soul of her husband. The spiritual forces of wickedness attack her to prevent his entering into the Promised Land.) I went to church for ten years before Joe returned to the teachings he heard as a youth, and the more I pressed into God, the more difficult it was at home. (It will get worse before it gets better!)
Ephesians 5 is not asking us to submit to ungodliness—can any of us here truly say our husbands are asking us to do that? I have had wives of unbelievers tell me their husbands did want them to do ungodly things, and no one should obey man over God. The Church needs to rescue such women and their children!
But, admit it now, most of the things we complain about are not those things that will compromise our right standing with God, are they?
If they are even legitimate:
Finally, let us remember that in God’s Kingdom the fine art of submission is required.
Rather:
And Now, Father, we come to you, recognizing that as usual, we have made a mess of things. How easy it is, God to muddle through life. But we want to do better. We want to be the wives and mothers you have called us to be. And now you have called us to be leaders, Oh, God, help us! How can we lead others when we need so much help from You? But You don’t make mistakes, so here we are. I do not understand, Jesus, how You could have left your great work of calling mankind to Yourself in such untrustworthy hands. I hate to think that we are all You have. I guess You have a great sense of humor—and Great Faith. You believe in us a whole lot more than we do ourselves. So we throw ourselves on Your mercy, asking that You forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Give us grateful hearts, our Father. Let us bless our husbands and not drain them. Let us convey joy to our ladies even when it costs our bleeding, dying man of flesh. We ask that what they see will be You, and not us. Help us to be more God-focused, and more other-focused, than self-focused. Help us to recognize that as we serve our husbands and children and the women who come to MOPS, we are doing it to You. You see it, even our humblest service, You honor it, and our reward is inevitable, for You promised it. In Jesus’ Name.
Feel free to use or adapt these materials, but please acknowledge and give credit to charlottesreaders.com These materials are copyrighted. You may distribute them for personal use, but they cannot be sold.
Choosing your Identity in God
Charlotte S. Snead
11/8/2020
Welcome Tour
Charlotte Snead
10/23/2018
Unity
Charlotte S. Snead
11/9/2015
What Love Isn't
Charlotte S. Snead
9/20/2015
Love in Marriage--A Disclaimer
Charlotte S. Snead
8/27/2015
Contentment--A Thanksgiving Devotion
Charlotte S. Snead
8/26/2015
Intimacy-It's More than you Think
Charlotte S. Snead
8/26/2015
Interpreting Martian
Charlotte S. Snead
8/26/2015
Making Friends
Charlotte S. Snead
8/26/2015
Christmas 2006
Charlotte S. Snead
8/26/2015
Something Worth Dying For
Charlotte S. Snead
8/26/2015
The Priority of Extravagant Love
Charlotte S. Snead
8/25/2015
Down Memory Lane--The Slap
Charlotte S. Snead
8/14/2015
Until Christ Be Formed in You
Charlotte S. Snead
8/14/2015
Give Thanks
Charlotte S. Snead
11/22/2014
Hope
Charlotte S. Snead
11/1/2013
Devotion for Leaders
Charlotte S. Snead
12/17/2012
A Time to Recaliberate
Charlotte S. Snead
9/6/2012
I Can't Do Goodness
Charlotte S. Snead
3/12/2012
She works Willingly
Charlotte S. Snead
2/27/2008
Raising Your Freak-Out Threshold
Charlotte S. Snead
9/2/2006
Finding our Significance
Charlotte S. Snead
5/20/2006
The Ephesians 5 Wife
Charlotte S. Snead
9/9/2002
It's All about Growth
Charlotte S. Snead
9/6/2002