Justice within Households

^”Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands love your wives and do not be harsh with them.  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.  Colossians 3:18-21 (N.I.V)

Our homes are expected to be havens of love and peace; where members feel accepted and cared for. However, some homes are hostile environments where violence, abuse and fear abound, and where souls and bodies are crushed and bleeding.

The keys for a Christian household are submission coupled with love, and obedience coupled with sincere concern. Even though it does not take away their obligations to submit and obey, wives with husbands who love them with the love of Christ for the Church find it easier to submit and respect their husbands, children whose parents demonstrate their love to them and go out of their way to supply their needs will find it easier to obey.  And it is also easier to love those who respect, obey, and respect you.

But what is submission? It is a state of surrender and compliance. Wives are expected to willingly accept their husband’s right of leadership in their relationship as a response to their love and respect for him. Submission is not supposed to be effected by force.

And what of love?  It is also a form of submission in that it involves sacrifice and surrender; the decision to cherish and support another person. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:7)

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Fear can effect a show of submission, but love only can truly subjugate a haughty spirit. ~ Mary Cowden Clarke

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