As men, we are admonished to love our wives as Jesus loved the church and gave his life for it. We are to deny ourselves and pick up our cross and follow him. We are to act like, think like and talk like him. We are dead and He lives through us.
The question is simple. If you are here looking for a husband, are you really looking for Jesus to marry? Will you serve your husband as if he were Christ in your home?
I am simply curious to hear your responses. I seek to find Jesus in my bride. The whole, if Jesus were a woman, what she would be like. What an awesome wife she would be.
Your thoughts are appreciated. Yes, it is very easy to misinterpret what people say.
First the question was given out to women and we know that men typically have a difficult time holding their peace, especially when they know they are right and want to make sure you know when your premise is 'flawed' by their own standard of thinking.
Is a woman not expected to be like Christ? Is she not expected to be selfless and walking in the godly nature and Spirit of Christ?
Yes, she can and is expected to do that which she can do.
Is what she does dependent upon her husband being a godly man?
No, in no wise. Christ was not expected to remain godly only if all of those he came in contact with were godly.
The truth is that we are all expected to be one in Christ, there should be absolutely no divisions among us if we were.
We either have Christ Jesus in us teaching us and empowering us to be selfless in nature as he was or we do not. We are told to prove our own selves and see if we be in the faith or not. I am not here to prove you nor you me. I daily prove my own self and as Paul did, I die daily. It isn't about me.
My conclusion on the matter is simple. Every woman should have the desire to marry a man who is exactly like Christ Jesus so that she can pour herself out in love and service to him as she was created to do.
It is only having to strive against sin that there becomes an issue. There is most certainly times where a godly wife must tell an ungodly husband "I can't do that as it is against the Lord" But as I accept that God has made rulers over me and I submit to their rule over me, a wife must submit, through Christ, unto my headship else she is ungodly. I am responsible for loving her either way.
And it's a good to note that women are not only to do that "through" Christ, but "AS" Christ did in his relationship to 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."
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Christ is God and is equal to God, but he has a different function and role, and I think that is the same way that a woman is a human and equal to man, but also has a different function/role. I think that is an important principle for women. Having someone over you as "the head" does not make you worth less or not as valuable or less equal. We are all one in Christ, we just have different jobs.
And this principle applies to every relationship/position:
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."
"Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."
And this is the exhortation for elders, in the headship position, as representative of Christ and husbands/fathers/elders of God's church:
"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
And this is the reward for whomever(men/women/children) humbles themselves, follows Christ, and serves others:
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"
"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name"
"Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
What do you do when your woman is acting in fear and jumbled up emotions. What do you do with your woman when she is yelling and screaming at you and hitting you out of rage of emotion?
What do you do when she tries to feed you the apple?
The question seemed like putting a label of a *chair* in a *table*. The purpose of a chair is for sitting. Will we sit on a table just because it was labeled as *chair*?
Given that we are all created as unique individuals living with different calling or purpose, I am marrying someone who's holding-up his own identity in God, rather than putting the identity of Jesus in front of him. Seeing that way, I am not serving my husband just because i'm seeing *him* as Jesus - but i would serve him because i love him.
It's wonderful to serve because of LOVE rather than as a responsibility. Love goes until forever, while responsibility can tear relationship down.
