Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale Daily DevotionalSample

Let's get specific

Paul now moves from the general to the specific. He goes from the general command for everyone to submit to God, to the specific command for wives to submit to their husbands.

The word here for "submit" is an interesting Greek word; it's the compound word hupotasso, which is a combination of the two words hupo, meaning under, and tasso, meaning order. It conveys the idea of putting something in an orderly fashion under something else. There's no arm-twisting here; it's a voluntary and agreeable act of coming under the authority of another, which is what wives are called to do in relation to their husbands. Wives are to place themselves under their husbands' authority in an orderly manner.

But... That's often the first reaction in a wife's heart when confronted with this. Why is that? Most often it is because their mind is drawn towards their husbands. Do you have any idea who you're telling me to submit to? However, that's not the direction the Lord wants us to take.

Remember the context for this command. It comes after the general command to submit to God, so first and foremost, it's a matter of obeying and trusting Him. And it's a powerful demonstration of trust when a wife does submit to her husband, because she's essentially declaring, "Lord, I am trusting that You will be the One to ultimately cover and take care of me as I choose to bring myself under my husband's authority, because I'm really obeying You."

That's the important thing for wives to remember. If their degree of trust simply extends to the character of their husbands, they'll have plenty of motivation not to submit. But it's way bigger than that; submitting to a husband is an investment of faith in God, faith that He knows best and has ordained this order because it's good for her individually and good for her marriage.

It's a powerful demonstration of trust when a wife submits to her husband. She is trusting God to cover and take care of her as she chooses to bring myself under her husband's authority.

Think about it...

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?