Husbands and Wives

Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord."
Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her"

I know a lot of people have a hard time with wives being told to submit to their husbands.  Although, if you look at what is being asked of our husbands, I think they have the harder job!  But in all reality, these verses just tell us what we've already been told by Jesus in John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  In my notes on that page, it goes on to say that love is more than warm feelings...it is an attitude that reveals itself in action. 

All this reminded me of a couple pictures I saw once...I think it's from the love and respect book/study.  But I thought I'd post them here because they give a great visual of how the verses above build up a relationship...and how easily a relationship can fall apart if things go in reverse.

A Secure Position

It's really easy to get angry, isn't it!?!  There are so many things that can steal my joy, tick me off, and just make me mad.  Or is it a choice?  In the heat of emotions, it's hard to remember sometimes...or maybe that's just me.  Thankfully God doesn't tell us we cannot feel angry, but He does ask us to handle it properly.  There hides the struggle...

Ephesians 4:26 says " 'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."  (Psalm 4:4 is where "In your anger do not sin" was taken.)

Anytime I read something in the Bible and the devil gets mentioned, my attention is grabbed.  How important is it that we handle our anger properly, or else we risk giving the devil a foothold!  What is a foothold, exactly?  It's defined as "A secure position from which further progress may be made."  WHOA!  By holding onto our anger, we're giving the devil a secure position from which he can make further progress in our lives.  That is serious trouble....

Imagine the risks of giving the devil a secure position in your life...because if you give the enemy a secure position - guess who doesn't have one.