November 19, 2017 · Ephesians 5:21

Church Family

“When there's marriages, there's going to be times we have to let go of our own priorities, and recognize the wisdom of the other partner, or the necessity that they have in this. Denying yourself is difficult. It can actually seem unnatural. But when we realize, in a context where each person is doing it, there's a real possibility for a great relationship. If I am submitting to you, and you're submitting to me — now, if God's really in that, there can be something beautiful. If the church is submitting to leadership, and leadership is submitting to the church, then there's something beautiful that can grow out of that. … We know it can go really wrong, and we need to keep our eyes open for that, because it's a perversion of submitting to God. But we have to ask ourselves, is there a part of my heart that is hard against someone? Is there something that's stopping me from submitting to them in love? And why is that? Often our attitudes get built up, and we start to build these walls over a long time. It could be weeks, or months, or years, and we don't even realize the extent to which we block people off. … In our families, our work, our friendships, our church. Submission is a mission that is critical, yet difficult. And only the Lord can help show us where it is in our own lives.”