Robert Louis Stevenson was an accomplished writer back in the 19th century who had a way with words. He once as a boy saw some men lighting the oil-filled lanterns that served as street lamps and exclaimed, “Look they’re punching holes in the darkness.”
If you have ever attended a wedding, you know the beauty and excitement that come with the event. But weddings are less about the event, and more about a couple accepting God’s invitation to join Him on His mission of punching holes in the darkness of this world. Consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:14-16:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
When husbands and wives shed their self-centered nature, and live into their God-given roles, marriages reflect the light of Christ to a world that desperately needs Him. Earthly marriages serve as somewhat of a street light, lighting a way to the beautiful relationship between Jesus and His Bride, (His Church). Look at what Peter says about those roles in 1 Peter 3:
“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”
Marriages require both the husband and wife to have mutual submission to God and to one another. When wives adorn themselves with a gentle and quiet spirit, they show incredible strength, trust, and resiliency in God. They are able to come alongside their husbands as cheerleaders, helpers, and respectfully defer to his leadership as long as it does not cause the wife to sin. And when a husband lives in an understanding way with his wife, he sees her as God’s daughter, holding her in high esteem; he treats her as precious and listens greatly to her intuition. He knows what blesses her and what distresses her, and he lays down his life to bless her. God has even built in a protection for the wife in verse 7 of 1 Peter. There is nothing worse than having your prayers hindered.
Christian marriages should look different than others in the culture. We have mindsets of submission. It is not about us getting our way, or being right; it is about us being right with God. Serving Him ... and one another. It is about us submitting to our God-given roles in order that we win others to Christ.
THIS WEEK: Reflect ... How is your marriage doing? If you are not experiencing the joy in your marriage you hoped for, consider doing a couple of things:
- Submit any self-centeredness to Jesus.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8
- Submit to God’s role in your life as a husband or wife.
While you cannot control your spouse, you can submit to God. It is your job to submit to your role He has given you, and it is God’s job to make your spouse good.
When husbands and wives submit to their roles, they shine the light of Christ in their marriage, their family, and to others in the community. They join God on the mission of punching holes in the darkness.
-Pastor Robert