Eph 5.21-6.9 – The dance of mutual submission

Jesus lays down his life for you and for everyone around you. To share in his glorious life is to share in his self-emptying, to put it on every day like a garment. So lay down your lives for one another; SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER.  Here are some examples of what I mean:

(22) Wives, look at how Jesus lays down his life for your husband. Join him in doing that. (23) As Jesus takes care of the church, as the head takes care of the body, your husband’s job is to take care of you. (24) Receive your husband’s care for you, as the church receives care from Jesus.

(25) Husbands, look at how Jesus lays down his life for your wife. Join him in doing that. Love her like Jesus loves the church. Jesus gave himself up for her, (26) telling her the truth about herself so as to make her whole, (27) beautiful, flawless, glorious. (28) Husbands, love your wives like that. Care for her like you care for your own body. (29) Nourish and tenderly care for her, just like Jesus does for the church, (30) because we are his body. (31) “A man leaves his father and mother to be unified with his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” (32) This is a profound mystery, the way a husband and wife are like Jesus and his church. (33) Anyway, the husband-wife relationship is meant to be one of love and respect.

(6.1) Children, look at how Jesus lays down his life for your parents. Join him in doing that. It is good for you to do what you’re told. (2) “Honor your father and mother…”–this bit of instruction carries a promise with it– (3) “…that you will live long and prosper.”

(4) Fathers, look at how Jesus lays down his life for your children. Join him in doing that. Don’t be a jerk. Instead, share in Papa’s work of parenting her children, patiently and persistently teaching them to live in truth.

(5) Slaves, look at how Jesus lays down his life for your earthly masters. Join him in doing that. As you obey the Eternal Master, obey also your temporary masters with respect and love. (6) We are all slaves of Jesus, following his orders, not because we want to impress him or suck up to him, but because we love him. (7) Find joy in being a servant, because ultimately you are not serving a mere human master; you are serving the Real Master. (8) We receive the Triune life of goodness by doing good, by participating in goodness wherever we are. This is true for all of us, slave or free.

(9) Masters, look at how Jesus lays down his life for your slaves. Join him in doing that. Don’t threaten them; love them. They do not belong to you; they belong to Him, and so do you. Do for them what The Master has done for you.