Digging Deeper: Be Blessed

Avatar photo Bridget Turner on October 25, 2024

 

Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

1 Peter 3:9 (NLT)

 

BE BLESSED

 

As we wrap up this week, I wanted to share a family story that happened recently involving the church I grew up in. It is where I met Jesus, was baptized, and got married, along with many in my extended family. Some portion of our family had been a part of that church for over half a century until about 12 years ago. The details of the story are not mine to share, but collectively, those in the family still attending the church decided it was best for them to leave. God graciously gave them a new home church that welcomed them in and allowed them to heal. In fact, one of my cousins accepted the call to ministry shortly after making the change and has been their pastor for a few years now.

Several weeks ago, he was invited back to the original church to speak at their homecoming services. When my mom told me this, I thought I had misheard her. In addition, she and several family members were going to support him. This could only be by the grace of God because my mom was probably the most hurt and broken from all of it.

Here’s how my mom described their day: “We could not have felt more welcome and been treated any better. So many people hugged us and said how thankful they were to have us there.” They even stayed for lunch. I laughed because the original plan was to get in and get out (In case you’re not familiar with homecoming at small-town churches, there is always lunch after the service with the best food!). I have no idea what prompted the invitation, but what I do know is that God granted our family His blessing through it. Reconciliation is the sweetest gift. It is, after all, what Christ did for the church.

Obeying the words of 1 Peter 3 is not always easy. However, when we intentionally seek unity, sympathize with and love each other, and keep a tender heart and humble attitude, the desire to retaliate against someone is much less intense. Just as God was gracious to my family and brought them the blessing of healing and restoration, He will do the same for all of us as we surrender the outcome to Him. Be blessed, church.

 

Bridget Turner serves as the Director of Women’s Groups at NorthStar Church. She and her husband, Steve, live in Powder Springs and have two young adult children, Hannah and Joshua. She enjoys watching football, traveling and reading.

 

Digging Deeper: A Win-Win

Avatar photo Bridget Turner on October 24, 2024

 

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.
Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.”

1 Peter 3:8-11 (NLT)

 

A WIN-WIN

 

When our children were young, we never had to teach them to defend themselves. They would argue loudly, hit, and sometimes bite to protect themselves from each other! What we did have to teach them was to be nice—to be kind no matter what. When our son was in elementary school, we signed him up to play soccer. It wasn’t very competitive but focused on teaching basic skills and teamwork. At that age, teamwork meant everyone running to wherever the ball was and kicking! During one game, my son ran off the field upset, and we told him he needed to go back and play. He replied, “Mom, they are all kicking, and it’s not very nice.” He had gotten the message but missed the context. Needless to say, soccer was not his thing.

Peter is putting into words what the church already knows is right. The constant threat of persecution had their emotions overloaded, and no doubt the flesh of every believer was battling for revenge. Nero, the emperor, seemed unstoppable as he made sport of persecuting and killing them. Given these conditions, it’s easy to understand how the church could get bogged down in misunderstandings and arguments. The Scripture is clear, though: they are not to repay evil for evil or insult for insult. Rather, they are to bless, as God has commanded them to do, and He will give them His blessing.

Blessing someone is God’s command. We should not consider whether we want to, or even if they deserve it. We talked about this very idea in my small group last week. The author Lisa Harper says, “Obedience is the fruit of gratitude.” We need to ask the Holy Spirit to tenderize our hearts so that obeying Him to bless others becomes the only option we consider. The benefit to us is receiving God’s blessing for ourselves. It truly is a win-win situation.

 

Bridget Turner serves as the Director of Women’s Groups at NorthStar Church. She and her husband, Steve, live in Powder Springs and have two young adult children, Hannah and Joshua. She enjoys watching football, traveling and reading.

 

Digging Deeper: Mercy and Humility

Avatar photo Bridget Turner on October 23, 2024

 

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you…

1 Peter 3:8-9a (NLT)

 

MERCY AND HUMILITY

 

If you take just a few minutes to check the news, you will realize there is conflict everywhere. Story after story will pop up about wars in Israel and Ukraine, political upheaval not just in the United States but across the globe, and even disagreements on how best to handle hurricane relief efforts. While less important, let’s not forget the officiating disputes from every major sporting event that make the headlines! It can all be overwhelming and raise our anxiety levels if we spend too much time focusing on it.

As we continue in our passage this week, remember that Peter is trying to help the church stay united and focused in a very uncertain time. Today’s section, “be tenderhearted and keep a humble attitude,” appeals to what should already be part of their lives. Several commentaries describe “tenderhearted” as “pitiful, ready to show mercy.” The assumption is that if we are ready to show mercy and keep a humble attitude, we are already merciful and humble. Peter goes on to say, “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you.”

Not sure about you, but mercy and humility are not usually how I find myself entering a disagreement. Too often, I have a mental list of counterpunches ready to justify my argument. Pride can take over quickly, and small differences become mountains that take longer to reconcile. When this happens, I know that I am trusting myself and not God. The good news is that, as a Christian, I also know I can ask God for help in prayer, through His Word, and through other believers who know my heart. More recently, while praying through a tough conversation, God led me to a new worship song called Shalom by Bridge Worship. Shalom is the Jewish word for peace, and this song reminded me that God not only wants us to live in peace but also to be at peace.

My prayer for us today is that we lean into the power of the Holy Spirit within us to be merciful and humble, living at peace with one another.

 

Bridget Turner serves as the Director of Women’s Groups at NorthStar Church. She and her husband, Steve, live in Powder Springs and have two young adult children, Hannah and Joshua. She enjoys watching football, traveling and reading.

 

Digging Deeper: Love the Church

Avatar photo Bridget Turner on October 22, 2024

 

Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Matthew 22:37-39 (NLT)

 

LOVE THE CHURCH

 

Peter’s second and third instructions are to sympathize with each other and to love each other as brothers and sisters. In the beginning, he addresses his letter to the chosen ones, living as exiles and foreigners in the land. It’s important to remember that this audience is made up of people who do not necessarily know each other or even have similar lifestyles. They are Jewish and Gentile believers, living together as outsiders, both equally fearful of what each day will bring.

A few years ago, I went on a mission trip to Haiti. The country was still recovering from a massive earthquake that had displaced many families. My role on this trip was to bring a message to the ladies in the church. I struggled with what I could possibly say to give hope to those living in this third-world country. Our missions director reminded me that these women—wives and mothers—wanted the same things I did. They wanted their families to know Jesus and to be safe. They wanted their husbands to be godly and their children to have a good education. Sadly, many of them needed and wanted the basics—food, clothing, and shelter. I quickly realized that although we had very different outward circumstances, our hearts were aligned by our love for God.

The modern church is no different from the early church. We all come together with different backgrounds, education, socio-economic statuses, and political views. All that diversity can cause friction and make it hard to remember that we are more alike than not. So how do we navigate the tension of our differences? Being sympathetic and loving each other as brothers and sisters is key.

Scripture teaches us that love is patient and kind. It is not envious, boastful, arrogant, rude, self-seeking, or irritable. It keeps no record of wrongs (1 Cor. 13:4-5). My prayer for all of us today is that we remember what love is and choose to obey the greatest commandment: to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

 

Bridget Turner serves as the Director of Women’s Groups at NorthStar Church. She and her husband, Steve, live in Powder Springs and have two young adult children, Hannah and Joshua. She enjoys watching football, traveling and reading.

 

Digging Deeper: Be of One Mind

Avatar photo Bridget Turner on October 21, 2024

 

“Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.”

1 Peter 3:8 (NLT)

 

BE OF ONE MIND

 

Last week, our passage found Peter giving specific instructions to husbands and wives. This week, in 1 Peter 3:8-11, he returns to addressing the whole church. As we begin this week’s devotions, keep in mind what is currently happening to the church. Whether this letter was written just before or after Rome was burned is unclear. What is clear, though, is that animosity and hatred toward Christians are intensifying. They are literally living in fear for their lives, and many would suffer greatly for their beliefs.

Peter begins by encouraging them to live and make choices that could turn the hearts of their enemies to Jesus as their Savior. He says this will require them to be of one mind, to sympathize with each other, to love one another as brothers and sisters, to be tenderhearted, and to keep a humble attitude. Easy enough, right? But imagine if you were part of the early church, living in constant fear for your life. How would you act? Would the daily stress allow you to be kind and loving? Would concern for your family and friends allow you to be tender and humble?

For today, let’s focus on the charge “to be of one mind.” Some Bible translations say “like-minded” or “harmonious.” This does not mean that everyone agrees on everything, all the time. Rather, as author and Bible teacher Jen Wilkin says, “It is agreeing on the spine issues, the essentials of our faith.” For instance, this would include what we believe about the Bible, salvation, or the Trinity. Wilkin adds, “When we have division, it is often rooted more in our lack of humility in our thinking than in actually feeling stronger about a particular point of division.”

I believe Peter is encouraging all of us, as the church, to keep the main thing the main thing. Living in unity with our brothers and sisters will draw the lost to Christ—and that is our main calling as the church.

 

Bridget Turner serves as the Director of Women’s Groups at NorthStar Church. She and her husband, Steve, live in Powder Springs and have two young adult children, Hannah and Joshua. She enjoys watching football, traveling and reading.

 

Digging Deeper: True Love

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on October 18, 2024

 

 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:1-7  (NLT)


TRUE LOVE

 

Romance is a fickle thing, and like lightning, it can strike when you least expect it. Deanna and I first connected one night at work. The Super Target where we both worked during high school and college used to be a viewing spot for fireworks on July 4th.

Due to some late rain, the fireworks were delayed, and we got stuck in awful traffic after work. By happenstance, we started having a conversation in the parking lot. I should mention that at the time, I was dating another girl and wasn’t looking for a relationship. Yet, as we talked, the night went on and on, well beyond the traffic, and the only thing keeping me there was the conversation. In other words, there were… fireworks! Sorry, couldn’t resist.

I got home late that day with a bittersweet feeling. I knew I was in love, and it wasn’t with the girl I was dating. Fast forward, and we’ve been married for 15 years.

A coworker of mine recently got married, and he asked me, “What’s the secret to staying married?” I simply replied, “There is no secret—just mean what you say at the altar, and you’ll be good.”

As we reflect on this week’s message, we’ve discussed the roles of husbands and wives, the importance of self-sacrifice, and the way children can complicate things. At this point, I’d like to underscore the bedrock of it all: love.

I am so thankful for the gift of love. Our example for love is very simple—it’s Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). There is no greater example of love than this.

We get to experience all kinds of love, whether with spouses, children, friends, or extended family. But the love you share with your spouse is special. It’s unique, intimate, and beautiful.

In Song of Solomon, it says:
“…for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.
If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house,
he would be utterly despised.” (SoS 8:6-7)

I don’t know how I would describe the love I have with Deanna, but this passage feels more accurate than anything I could come up with. If we can focus less on ourselves and more on our spouse, using the loving example of our Lord, maybe we can live in this love that cannot be quenched.

I would also like to personally thank Daniel Hoover for his contributions to this week’s devotionals. Daniel is someone I hold in the absolute highest regard, and it was a joy to share his wisdom with you.

He and Bonnie offer a range of services to couples, dealing with topics from infertility to infidelity to conflict resolution, through their ministry called The Marriage Adventure. You can find them here:

themarriageadventure.com
@themarriageadventure on Facebook and Instagram
The Marriage Adventure Podcast can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

Digging Deeper: Parenthood

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on October 16, 2024

 

 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:1-7  (NLT)


PARENTHOOD

 

We recently took on one of the modern world’s greatest challenges to the family—a trip to Disney World. The unforgiving heat, the thousands of steps, and the debate over whether or not the Lightning Lanes are worth it (they are—in for a penny, in for a pound). Not much can wear down the collective patience of a family faster than that combination of sweat, money, lines, and steps. You experience the full gamut of emotions at Disney, that’s for certain.

A movie that displays all the emotions of parenthood is Parenthood with Steve Martin. A great example of a dad stepping up to the plate to preserve his family’s well-being is when his son, Kevin, is having a birthday party. He had hired a cowboy impersonator for the party, and a bunch of kids had shown up just for that.

When he found out the cowboy was unavailable, he threw a Hail Mary to save the party—he grabbed a cowboy hat and made a fool of himself as a cowboy for an hour, much to the delight of his son and the other kids. This act brought great joy to his wife and all the children, and he won the day by putting them first.

That movie does a great job of showing the different angles and stresses parenting can place on a marriage. Once you have kids, your capacity to love, fear, worry, stress, and hope all seem to grow. You never knew you could love someone that much or worry about someone that much.

It is important, however, to maintain boundaries between kids and parents. As we continue consulting Pastoral Counselor and Marriage Adventure Co-founder Daniel Hoover, I asked him to speak on this subject:

“This year my parents will celebrate 64 years of marriage,” reflected Hoover. “I remember my mom always saying, ‘The greatest thing I can do for you boys is to love your dad.’ She was right. My parents maintained a healthy and connected marriage. This created such a foundation for me and my family. My mom and dad loved me, but they had no problem letting me know that the world didn’t revolve around me.”

It feels like we live in a time that magnifies the child, often placing them above the spousal relationship. It sounds selfless, but in the end, it can be harmful to the long-term well-being of the child.

“It’s important to remember, kids should come second!” said Hoover. “We’re all looking for validation and love, and when our kids are small, they offer us validation. They make us feel important. They’re so cute and cuddly… and selfish! Kids should be taught that they don’t run the home—Mom and Dad do. Our children will be happier, healthier, and better adults if they are raised with an understanding that the world doesn’t revolve around them. If the health of your marriage suffers, the children will also suffer.”

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

Digging Deeper: The Advice of a Grandfather

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on October 16, 2024

 

 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:1-7  (NLT)


THE ADVICE OF A GRANDFATHER

 

When I was a teenager, I had a conversation with my grandfather one morning. We were on a family vacation to the Outer Banks, a family favorite of ours, and he and I were drinking coffee and watching the sunrise while everyone else slept.

My grandmother had passed away several years earlier, and he was reflecting on their marriage. He shared a quote with me that I’ve never forgotten: “When you get married, it should be you and her against the world.”

I love that idea. Life isn’t easy, and finding a husband or wife you can face it with—knowing unequivocally that you have each other’s back—is something we should all be so lucky to find.

When reflecting on the challenges that couples face these days, Pastoral Counselor and Marriage Adventure co-founder Daniel Hoover narrowed it down to two critical challenges:

“Our biggest threat to a godly marriage is SELF,” said Hoover. “When we aren’t abiding in or walking with Christ daily, that old, fleshly, selfish nature begins to rear its ugly head. However, when both spouses are walking with Christ daily and submitting to His authority, we find it much easier to die to ourselves and serve one another.”

The second threat is easy to guess: DISCONNECTION.

“It’s rampant in our society,” said Hoover. “Whether it’s watching TikTok or reels, playing video games, or spending countless hours at the ball field, couples today are more disconnected than ever! A deep, meaningful connection in marriage takes intentionality. Think about when you and your spouse first met—chances are, you went on dates, talked for hours on the phone, and went on fun trips. However, as life and seasons change, many couples allow kids, work, and hobbies to rob them of meaningful connection.”

The “diseases” of SELF and DISCONNECTION are easy to spot, and both can pose major threats to the health of our marriages. Daniel offered these remedies to counteract these threats:

  1. Go to bed at the same time (without turning on the TV). This creates margin in your day and allows you and your spouse to have “pillow talk” before falling asleep. It also creates time for other fun bedroom antics.

  2. Offer bids for connection throughout the day. A bid for connection is when one partner reaches out to the other for interest, conversation, or expressing a need. The healthiest couples talk about everything and nothing at the same time. It could be sending a sweet text during the day, stopping in the hallway to offer an extended hug, complimenting them on how nice they look, or stopping by Starbucks to get their favorite coffee drink.

  3. Once a quarter, get away for a night (without the kids). It sounds like a lot, but it’s only four times a year. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. If you can’t afford to get away, send the kids to the grandparents’ or a friend’s house.

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

Digging Deeper: Know Your Role

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on October 15, 2024

 

 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:1-7  (NLT)


KNOW YOUR ROLE

 

I am married to a very strong-willed and outspoken wife, and those are qualities I love about her. You never have to question her; she will tell you exactly how she feels and exactly what she needs or wants. In our 15 years of marriage, I like to think I’ve become better, or more proficient, at understanding how to meet those needs and serve her.

For example, some people’s love language is acts of service or physical touch. Deanna’s is a solid two-hour nap and an iced coffee when she wakes up. Whatever love language you call that, it’s hers. I understand that about her, and on Sundays after church, I try to take care of our kids so she can have a restful afternoon and an iced Americano when she wakes up. That does far more for her affection toward me than flowers, candy, or even a nice dinner ever would.

As we raise our sons and both work full time, we try to be mindful of taking care of and serving one another in the small ways we can. Life is a grind, and prioritizing biblical guidance for our lifelong partnership is a must for us, as it should be for anyone. Keep Jesus at the center, and follow His lead in serving your partner over yourself.

Life will continue to stretch and grow you, so the roles we play as spouses aren’t always clear-cut. According to pastoral counselor Daniel Hoover, it’s not uncommon for the roles we play for one another to evolve over time.

“When addressing spousal roles, Scripture doesn’t assign duties to either the husband or wife,” Hoover said. “God created us all with different gifts and talents. Some couples are more traditional, and some are more unconventional. This can also change over different seasons of life. It comes down to the heart in which we interact and submit to one another in the marriage union.”

Part of growing in your relationship over time could be this evolution, and embracing those potential changes could be key to how we serve our spouses.

“I believe it is important to allow grace when seasons change and a spouse might sense a different calling. For example, before we had children, Bonnie was called to serve and work directly beside me in our day-to-day ministry (careers). However, as our children have gotten older, she has pulled back from that and geared her attention more toward them and creating our home environment. While at first this was difficult for me, it was important for her that I remain understanding of God’s unique calling in her life.”

Change is inevitable. As we face new changes and challenges over time, it’s important to have grace for our spouses as we navigate the uncharted together.

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

Digging Deeper: Submit to One Another

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on October 14, 2024

 

 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:1-7  (NLT)


SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER

 

Having the opportunity to write for the Digging Deeper team is an honor and a responsibility that I do not take lightly. When I saw that my topic was marriage, along with some very important scripture about it, I felt intimidated by the task of addressing it.

So, I decided to ask someone more studied and credentialed to offer some insight. Daniel Hoover, who served on staff at Northstar for nearly two decades, founded and leads a ministry called The Marriage Adventure with his wife, Bonnie. Who better to ask for help than him? Daniel kindly agreed to provide some insight and will be featured several times this week.

In 1 Peter, chapter three, wives are called to submit to their husbands (v. 5), and husbands are called to honor their wives (v. 7). Similarly, Paul references the idea of spousal submission in Ephesians when he says wives should submit to their husbands as the church submits to Christ (Eph. 5:24), while husbands should love their wives as they love themselves (5:28).

So, what does biblical submission look like practically?

“Paul commands us all to ‘Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ,’” said Hoover, referencing Ephesians 5:21. “As Christians, we are to submit to each other. This means that we should think of the other person first, or before ourselves, yielding to each other when possible. Paul is addressing all believers, regardless of gender or socioeconomic status, in this verse. Then, in verse 22, he narrows his focus to marriage.”

This point is significant: we are to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. It only makes sense that this concept would carry over into marriage. Additionally, the original audience for Paul’s and Peter’s teachings would have been dramatically different from today’s.

“In that time, women were viewed as property,” Hoover said. “It was understood that a woman was supposed to submit to any and every man. However, Paul was saying that a woman isn’t to submit to every man. Women aren’t lesser than men. He was saying to submit only to your own husband. This is also the understanding Peter displays in 1 Peter 3:1. This was incredibly liberating for women in that day; it actually lifted women up from public oppression.”

This idea of submission is a continuation of the death to self that we endure as believers. In the confines of marriage, placing the needs of your partner ahead of your own is a noble pursuit. However, Daniel wanted to emphasize one important distinction:

“It’s also important to note that when these passages talk about submission, we aren’t commanded to submit to one another’s sin,” said Hoover. “Colossians 3:18 says, ‘Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.’ Wives have a higher authority than their husband, and that is Christ the Lord. We should always remember that a husband is a servant leader, not a tyrannical ruler.”

May we each strive to out-serve one another, as is fitting to the Lord, each day!

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.