28 May 2011

The Joining of Two: Marriage in View of New Life

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Wives, [be subject] to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself [being] the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives [ought to be] to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also [does] the church, because we are members of His body. FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must [see to it] that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:22-33

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Comments

Visitor - May 28, 2011 - 11:52am
Reminds me of the verse(s) “Many will enter the land but few will find rest.” (My paraphrase from verses in Hebrews .. forgot the chapter.) This verse in relation to your comments about the illusion christians go through Doing things for God instead of resting Being one with Him. The rest, contentment, and union with the Father is just not their in so many christians. Also, “Martha, Martha why are you so busy … I (Christ) am with you for a short time.” Thank you Adam and Jim, Nergo
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theshovel - May 28, 2011 - 4:39pm

Hello my dear friend Nergo!

It's always good to hear from you. Thanks for connecting the Hebrews verses with what we were talking about. I am also reminded of a story I heard years ago about a man who was traveling on foot with a large load on his back. A guy in a horse-drawn wagon stopped to give him a lift. Oddly, the traveler kept the pack on his back. When the driver suggested that he take the load off and rest, the man replied, "I wouldn't want to burden you any more, you've already been so kind." Somehow, we;re so caught up with our burdens that we don't realize that it's already been placed on Christ.

Jim :)

luvin - May 28, 2011 - 4:45pm
Nergo, I so much appreciate your sharing with us…thank you! Jim, thank you for your illustration as well! Adam

Visitor - May 28, 2011 - 5:22pm
I personally am so happy that someone is (you in this case) telling people (especially women) they don’t have to TRY to be subject to their husbands. They (we) already are. I could just cry when I think of all the years I tried to be what I thought I “should” be not only in my marriage but as a Christian. Today I am free in the Lord. He has set me free from the law of sin and death. I’m 73 now but I realize I could have many years of freedom ahead of me and I know I’ll have an eternity later with Him and the rest of His kids!! Bye the way, my husband and I have been married 56 years so far. I hope someday to write my life’s story. The Lord is truly amazing!!!! My life’s verse is Jeremiah 32:17. I ‘happened’ to come across this verse when I thought I was too hard for even God to fix. After reading it I thought from deep within, “even me”. Jeremiah 32:17 is still true!! Thank you!! Darlene
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theshovel - May 28, 2011 - 6:29pm

‘Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,'
Jeremiah 32:17

Darlene, I love that verse, too. :)

Thank you for taking the time to post this wonderful testimony to the freedom of Christ in you. I would love to read your story.

Jim :)

Tim P - May 29, 2011 - 9:31am
Thanks for this, men. I like what you are doing. By the way, Jim, my wife became pregnant about 6 weeks into our marriage and she too had morning sickness all day long. Ugh. It has been helpful for me in our marriage when I realize that oneness is not something to attain, but rather it is something that is real and true right now, and so I live in that. Keep up your good work. Tim
Tim
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theshovel - May 29, 2011 - 11:35am

Hello Tim!

It is always encouraging to hear that others recognize the oneness in marriage, for it also testifies to our oneness in Christ! :)

Jim

luvin - May 29, 2011 - 1:26pm
Tim, Thank you for the nice comments. Looks like all three of us had the same experience here. My wife was pregnant right after we were married. Adam

Visitor - May 30, 2011 - 8:20pm
Interesting-so we already are subject to each other, not something we are needing or trying to do. Maybe next time you would have time to answer this question (asked anonymously): So what does a wife say to a husband that feels he has to play the “headship card” every so often, when he feels his wife needs to do what he says or decides but she disagrees?

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