THEME: SECRET OF A BLESSED MARRIAGE.
MEMORISE:And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Genesis 2:18
READ: Ephesians 5:21-25
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
MESSAGE:
There are secrets of blessings in marriage. The first secret is the knowledge of the reason for marriage. It takes great commitment for a marriage to succeed and be blissful.
Our Bible reading for today shows us some principles that will help us to make our marriages work. The first one is mutual submission as believers in Christ. The Bible says in Ephesians 5:21:
“ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”
1 Corinthians 7:3-4 explains further:
“Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.”
Another principle is the submission of the wife. The Christian wife must learn to submit to her husband. When she does, she receives blessings that money cannot buy:
“For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.” 1 Peter 3:5-6
It is dangerous for a woman to go into a marriage with a man she would not willingly submit herself to; it is better that such a woman does not marry at all. When the word of God says “Wives, submit….” Some people take it as a piece of advice rather than the express command it is. It must be obeyed. In fact, the Bible goes further to reveal the degree of the submission; it says in Ephesians 5:24:
“……as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”
You would know a virtuous woman by the extent of her submission to her husband. I thank God that I have found in my wife a virtuous woman whose price is far above rubies (Proverbs 31:10). May the Lord bless your home with eternal peace, in the mighty name of Jesus.
ACTION POINT:
Wives, take practical steps towards voluntary submission to your husbands. Husbands, render love and tenderness to your wives. Also, please join me in praying for my wife as she celebrates her birthday today.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 5-6.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 5: GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES.
1. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master’s will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
2. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
3. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
4. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!