Turning from God's Way

August 5 

Falling away from the love of God, and turning to the power of men 

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord….” 

A wife cannot be made to submit to her husband. If she submits to our husband, it is because she has made a choice to do so. During this day and age, the generational genome has deteriorated to the point where the antipathy between men and women has turned so-called intimate relationships into trade relationships. In these relationships, there is no voluntary sacrifice of one’s own pride or willfulness for the sake of the marriage. Instead, there’s a constant series of compromises that ensure that neither of the couple will grow emotionally or spiritually. The key to marital intimacy is sacrifice, but the sacrifices made by a husband have to be chosen by that husband, but have to be based on his wife’s need for him to make the sacrifice. Likewise, the sacrifices made by a wife, must be chosen by her, but must be based on the need of her husband in the relationship. 

God has set his laws for marriage up for the sole purpose of each person growing away from their own self-centeredness for the sake of the truth in Christ. Though this idea is accepted and understood by believers it is an offensive idea to those who are not saved, and so have adopted the values of an unbelieving world. 

“…Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them….” 

The husband, and his “love of his wife” is called to create a safe relational environment between him and his wife so that his wife can feel free to grow emotionally and spiritually. This is why scripture emphasizes patience. Although patience is important for both husbands and wives in most cases I have seen, the husband is best suited to create a relational environment that creates harmony in the marriage by this patience. The mystery of the man’s leadership is reflected in the Biblical mystery that the head of the  woman is the man, the head the  man is Christ and the head of Christ is God.; ,  

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 1 Cor. 11:3 

 This is the same patience, which is of faith, and which Jesus showed to the children of men when he walked the Earth. This patient is not passivity, except when passivity is indicated or called for. This patient has a strong sense of the realistic interpretation of any circumstance. 

“….Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;”.   Col.3:17,18,19,20,21,22 

Turning toward the power of men and away from the power of God is shown in rebelling against God’s Word (commandments) and using men’s own understanding to justify ways and rules of relationships that do not work and cause destruction, such as the deterioration of the family system. Part of this development of man’s ways and resulting destructiveness in the day of judgment, is God’s judgment of the world in sending them a delusion that their ways, though obviously destructive, are justified anyway;  

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”                      2 Thess. 2:10-12    

During this day of judgment, God has revealed the sin of men which is manifest in many different ways with one way being the spoiling and undermining of children’s emotional and spiritual development because of this the simple directions of God‘s commandments have become much more complicated in a parents Plans and efforts in growing up sick and emotionally and spiritually damaged children in the Lord.