Position Over Performance

This whole submission and respect thing started making sense to me when I realized three things:

1. My husband has a POSITION.

2. My husband has a PERFORMANCE.

3. I must never confuse the order of the two.

My husband's God ordained position is this:

"The husband is the head of the wife

as Christ is the head of the church"

~Ephesians 5:23~

My husband is my leader, put there by God. He is also leader of the family, leader of the home, spiritual leader...in all things leader. Leader. LEADER.

His performance should look like this:

"Husbands, love your wives,

just as Christ loved the church and

gave himself up for her"

~Ephesians 5:25

"Husbands, love your wives

and do not be harsh with them."

~Colossians 3:19~

But what if it doesn't?

Then, I too, have a position and a performance.

My God ordained position is this:

"Now as the church submits to Christ,

so also wives should submit to their husbands

in everything."

~Ephesians 5:24~

My performance should look like this:

"the wife must respect her husband"

~Ephesians 5:33

"love their husbands and children,

to be self controlled...pure...

busy at home...kind...

subject to their husbands..."

~Titus 2:4-5~

But what if it doesn't?

Then I sin.

A wife who bases her performance solely on her husband's performance is a foolish wife indeed. 

A wise wife knows that her strength is not of herself but in the God Who loves her. >>tweet this<<

"for it is God who works in you

to will and to act according to His good purpose."

~Philippians 2:13~

"Not by might nor by power,

but by My Spirit,"

~Zechariah 4:6~

"the Lord, 

is my strength and my song;

He has become my salvation."

~Isaiah 12:2~

A God fearing wife will humble herself before the Lord and take on the role of her position without complaining, just as Christ took on the cross for the church. 

She is self-controlled, not functioning solely on how her husband makes her feel or what she thinks of his ways. 

She is gentle and kind in her response to him. 

She is patient when he is rude. 

She has peace in looking to an eternal perspective. 

Most importantly, she is strengthened by the grace that has been so freely showered upon her. "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" ~2Timothy 2:1~

If you, too, want to be a wife who sees her husband's God ordained position in greater importance than his sinful, fleshly, less-than-perfect performance, will you pray with me?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Father, thank you for sending Your Son to  be the perfect example of humility. I know Your design for marriage replicates that of Christ and the Church. Help me now to do my part. Help me respect and honor my husband based on the position You have given him, rather than how he performs in that position.

May my perception of my own position not be one of disdain as the world sees it and as the enemy would have it, but one of confident trust in You, extending grace to him as You have done for me.

Father, through my humble submission to You let my performance bring honor and glory to You, my husband, my family, and my position as wife.

In Jesus' precious name. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As you'll remember, a few weeks back I posted about a S.W.A.G. In the posts to come, I'll be sharing my heart on the attitudes a godly wife should have. (Note to self: I said "should". I have to write about this stuff because I have to learn it the most!)

You can find out what a S.W.A.G. is here.

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Sharing with.....Messy Marriage, Soul Survivor, A Proverbs 31 wife, The Beauty in His Grip, Marriage, Motherhood & Missions, The Modest Mom Blog, Yes, They Are all Ours, A Mama's Story, Chronicles of Grace, She Lives Free, The Life of Faith, Juana Mikels