Embracing the Other

Brad brought a great lesson on Sunday regarding the roles within a marriage. Here are just some key points.

Both men and women play the role of Jesus in marriage. They will play it differently, but both still get that opportunity.

Husband's Role: Jesus in His sacrificial AUTHORITY (Matt 20:25-28)

The role of the Husband is to model Christ's example of servant leadership. One of the passages that best displays this is John 13:1-17 in which Jesus washes the disciples feet. Authority and leadership means that you become the servant, you die to self in order to love and serve the Other.

Wife's Role: Jesus in His sacrificial SUBMISSION (Philippians 2:4-11)

It is important to note the equality of the Father and Son in the Trinity. Both are absolutely equal. Yet the Son displays His willingness to submit to the Father. This submission is 100% voluntary, a gift to the Father. A women's submission in marriage should not coerced, but a voluntary gift to her husband.

The Son takes a subordinate role, and in doing so, shows not weakness, but unbelievable strength.

The Result

The common them is sacrifice. Each wishes to please the other. Love and honor are given, accepted, and given again.

Discuss with your spouse this week:

1. In a normal day of the week, how can each of you fulfill your role in marriage?

2. In life's big decisions, how can each of you fulfill your role in marriage?

3. Wives, tell your husband 1-3 things that would help you feel served, loved, and appreciated. Husbands, tell your wife 1-3 ways that you would feel more supported and encouraged. Commit to putting this in a place where you will see it daily and try to begin doing these things without being asked. Also think of other ways you could show this. Marriage is most amazing when both spouses are proactively fulfilling their roles.