“Truly Loving One Another”

 

                           

DISCUSSION:

There’s more to being a Christian than talking about Jesus or rejoicing in being “saved.” Too often we emphasize our personal, “vertical” relationship with Jesus without thinking how that should affect our “horizontal” relationships with others, where life can be very complicated. Ephesians has some close to-home application here, teaching that the reason for submitting to one another is “out of reverence for Christ.”

Explaining Jesus’ command that we “love one another,” some have stated that “Where love reigns, there is mutual servitude,” adding that this applies even to kings and rulers. They must serve their people, as must leaders in the church, elders, deacons, preachers. So must husbands and wives.

Applying Jesus’ example to the marriage relationship, Paul mentions the “profound mystery” of Christ and his church. Jesus is the head of the church, and yet he sacrificed himself for it. He’s the model of service and submission for both the husband and the wife. It’s a love relationship of serving and sacrificing for one another.

Loving and submitting means subordinating our “rights” and emphasizing how we can serve and build up one another. Our commitment to Christ leads to acts of surrendering self and submitting “out of reverence for Christ.” Doing so will attract new believers.

Have you tried it?

 

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