The only way life could get better is if my wife made me a sandwich whenever I asked

Wives submit to your husbands. This phrase can tick people off. Why should I have to submit? Why is this in the Bible? Why would God be against women? Why does man have this much authority over women? The questions over this simple verse can go on and on. Let me try to shed some light on this subject.

This is from Colossians 3:18 but I will go over 19 too, “Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord…Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.”

This is what the Message translation says in verse 18-19, “Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master. Husbands, go all out in love for your wives, Don’t take advantage of them.”

It’s easy to look at scripture and manipulate scripture to say what you want it too. This is what Norman Geisler said in the Bible Knowledge Commentary about this scripture:

            “Wives are to submit to their husbands as their heads. This command was not limited to Paul’s day, as is obvious from two reasons he gave elsewhere: (1) the order of Creation (man was created first, then woman; 1 Tim. 2:13); (2) the order  within the Godhead (Christ submits to the Father; 1 Cor. 11:3). Submission or subordination does not mean inferiority; it simply means that the husband, not the wife, is head of the home. If he may be thought of as the “president,” she is           the “vice-president.”^[1] Of course there are moral limits to this submission; it is only as is fitting in the Lord. Just as obedience to government is commanded (Rom.13:1; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13) but only insofar as government takes its place under God (Ex. 1; Dan. 3; 6), even so a wife’s submission to her husband is only “in the Lord.” That is, she is not obligated to follow her husband’s leadership if it conflicts with specific scriptural commands.^[2]

It has to follow scriptural commands. This doesn’t mean if I want a sandwich, Hailee better make it for me without any grief. I think the verse 19 is just as important, Geisler said:

            “Husbands are responsible to love their wives (as Christ loved the church; Eph. 5:28–29). So they are to exercise loving leadership, not dictatorial dominion. Perhaps husbands need this reminder to be tender and loving as much or more than wives need the reminder not to usurp authority over their husbands. Assuming absolute authority will only embitter one’s wife, not endear her. The words be harsh translate pikrainesthe, which is more literally, “make bitter.” (A     different word is used in Col. 3:21; see comments there.) Wives, like tender and sensitive flowers (cf. 1 Peter 3:7), may wilt under authoritarian dominance but blossom with tender loving care. So in a maturing marriage the husband exercises compassionate care and his wife responds in willing submission to this loving leadership.^[3]

I love the phrase happy wife, happy life. If we aren’t trying to make our spouses happy, how do we expect to be happy? Marriage is about sacrifice, looking for each other’s best interest instead of our own. Yes, husbands are called to lead, but lead like Christ leads the church. Having the greatest love and ability to sacrifice himself for the Church. We are supposed to do that for our spouse.

Everyday I grow more in love with my wife. She has been really amazing to me through the years and even more over the past couple of weeks. I really don’t know where I would be without her.

If we claim to be Christian, our life is supposed to be honoring God. This needs to happen in marriage too. What are you doing to honor God in your marriage? What are you doing to show love for your spouse?

Have a great day.

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^[1] Norman L. Geisler, “Colossians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 683.

^[2] Norman L. Geisler, “Colossians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 683.

^[3] Norman L. Geisler, “Colossians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 683.

One goal, one purpose, I can’t wait for March Madness

March Madness is awesome. It’s one of the greatest sports tournaments. Every year we start out with over 300 Division 1 basketball teams and in a couple of weeks we will be down to 32 then 16 then 8 then 4 then 2 and eventually a champion. It’s a fierce battle and often the most talented team doesn’t win. Anyone in sports knows it’s not always the most talented team that wins the championship.

A couple of years ago the NBA flipped when LeBron James, Dewayne Wade and Chris Bosh came together as a team, but this didn’t mean championships. You had three elite basketball players and two role players starting. There were major growing pains. In order for the team to win, somebody couldn’t be the star. You had to sacrifice for the overall goal, to win the championship.

Life requires sacrifice to accomplish goals. I absolutely love my kids and my family. In order to have a family and four kids, Hailee had to deal with four pregnancies. The ups and downs of morning sickness, all the good and the bad pregnancy brings on. She made a huge sacrifice in order for us to have the family we have today. I am extremely thankful for what she has done.

As a Christian we have to look at what is our purpose daily. Here are three different versions of the same verse, Ephesians 1:11.

In him we were also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conform. NIV

Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. NLT

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. The Message

We has a special meaning in this verse. It’s pretty distinct from a general we. This goes into the fact that now both Jews and Gentiles are untied through God’s blessings in Jesus. The word chosen in the NIV is a Greek word eklerothemen. This means to cast a lot or appoint or obtain by lot according to the Bible Knowledge Commentary. One cool thing, it’s the only time the word is used in the New Testament. Some people thought because they came from a faith background they were better set with God, this isn’t the case. God’s love was not for one group of people, it was for everyone, those who came from a faith background and those who did not.

Being in Christ allows us to be free and to have a greater purpose. I was angry and depressed even though I didn’t show it before having faith. I had trouble forgiving some of the people that treated me wrong. Through Christ, I am forgiven and I have the ability to forgive others. I can join with others in sharing this message. Every week I join together doing Campus Life with people from Assembly’s of God, Non-Denominational and Wesleyan Churches to reach people and teach about Jesus. We all come from different backgrounds but unite for one common goal and purpose, to share Jesus.

In order for a team to win they have to sacrifice. I am looking forward to this tournament and what could happen. I am extremely thankful for the sacrifice my wife made so we can have the family we have today. I also look forward to uniting with my fellow believers in Christ for the purpose of reaching more people for Christ. When you look at your life, what is your goal? What is your purpose? Maybe you need to change in order to move forward with where you feel your life is going.

Have a great day.

Circumcision as an adult???

There are some areas of faith I am glad that progressed.

In the past it was the mothers whose faith you took after.

Paul ran into an issue when he met Timothy.

Timothy was a very godly man and Paul wanted him to take him on his mission trip.

There was a problem; his mother was Jewish while his father was Greek.

Why was this problem?

Circumcision.

While in the previous chapter we see where circumcision was not required for salvation (At this time a whole bunch of guys yelled Amen, jk).

Yet with Paul going and ministering to a group of Jewish people, they would always question Timothy because his mom was Jewish, but didn’t raise him in in faithful practices.

Paul had to do something in order to take Timothy with him.

Acts 16:3…

“Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was Greek.”

He had the faith of his mother and if he didn’t do this, it could severely affect their ministry.

Timothy made a huge sacrifice.

Looking up how long the process would take today, it says you aren’t able to do much for about three days and it slowly gets better but you are limited from certain activities for up to a month.

Ouch.

Timothy did that because he believed in this message and wanted to go on this trip.

It was a sacrifice.

What are some sacrifices you make your life?

Is it worth the cost?

Timothy did some amazing things in the Church and this was the start of his journey.

He did this for the gospel message and to go on this amazing trip.

I wonder where the Church would be today without this faithful person willing to make a sacrifice.

Anything worth doing is worth making sacrifices for.

Timothy went through some pain for the greater good.

What pain are you willing to go through for the greater good?

Have a great day.