Some Bible translations use the "S" word. You know, "submit." Yuck! No one likes the word, much less the idea of submitting to a spouse.  But, what about where the Bible says wives are to "submit to your husband?" For many, there has already been an unconscious decision made, "I will never submit to you!"

The problem isn't with the Bible. It's with our misuse of the word. The Bible clearly presents a sense of mutual submission. It begins with the husband, as the leader, submitting to his wife, honoring and esteeming her more highly than himself. Then she naturally responds by returning the honor. She submits to him, and now they are being "subject to one another in the fear of Christ." You see, we submit to one another as an expression of our reverence for Christ. In other words, our submission to Christ is demonstrated in our submission to each another!

Too many of us have lost the sense of "the fear of The Lord." We've forgotten how to revere Christ, to honor Him, and yes, even submit to Him. So we carry that same rebellion into our interpersonal relationships. We struggle with the "S" word. We need to be honest and open with God and confess, our rebellion, self-righteousness and stubbornness, and submit ourselves to Jesus first, then to our spouses, in the fear, reverence, and holy awe of our God. Then our love for God will be seen in our love -our mutual submission- for one another.