Sep 27 – Isaiah 65:17-25, Isaiah 66 Ephesians 5:8-33 Psalm 113:1-9

Is 65:17-18

“For behold, I create new heavens

and a new earth,

and the former things shall not be remembered

or come into mind.

But be glad and rejoice forever

in that which I create;

for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,

and her people to be a gladness.

The former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. Every pain and hurt experienced here will be healed. Instead we will be glad and rejoice – forever.

Forever!

That feeling of rejoicing, that wonderful gladness that we experience in small doses today will last forever.

This is where sea re heading, never forget that. These things that seem so bit and so difficult today will one day be the “former things”. God has a plan for restoration for this world – a new earth, life as it was a meant to be.

And He’s calling us to be a part of it. Do you know what you are going to be part of this kingdom? Fix your eyes on the things to come and the current things (soon to be former) will be seen in perspective.

Eph 5:22-24

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Yep that’s right… we’ve reach this passage. One that, because it’s been misunderstood has caused numerous problems over the years and maybe as a backlash to that has caused an over correction that is also not biblical.

First, we must understand headship. It is not tyrannical. Is that how Christ is with us? By no means. It is a loving responsibility. Headship does not mean controlling. It means you are accountable before God.

Men, you are accountable before God for you remarriage and for your wife. This is not something to ever take lightly. Neither is it a responsibility that you can abdicate and just sit back hoping your wife will step up to. Don’t be shy of the headship – the world today might not like that, but the world today is wrong about a great many things… so just add that to the list.

This only works when it is followed mutually.

When a man truly loves his wive as Christ loved the church, that love is not domineering or self seeking, but sacrificial and all encompassing. So to submit to someone who loves you as Christ loves the church is not something restrictive or negative, but liberating. Just as when a wive lovingly submits to her husband, there no battle to be had or point to be made – but a responsibility before God to lead correctly and the freedom to do so.

When either party gets this wrong, it doesn’t work. And that results in conflict, abuse and disharmony. There is no point in saying “woman submit” if the husband is not loving her as Christ loved the church, because what she would be submitting to is wrong.

There is a harmony and balance to be found in marriage, and it requires both of you working in partnership to see it fully realised.

So as for you, reading this, those of you who are married. You are in partnership.  You are part of a whole. Don’t forget that. And it’s easy to get carried away if the other person is sticking to their part of the arrangement – but really, the question is – are you? You determine how you love or how you submit. And when both of you get this right, marriage is as it should be, a wonderful picture of Christ’s love and commitment to His church.