Relationship - as it is fit in the Lord

Recently, I was reading through Colossians and I came upon a verse that stuck out like a 'healed

thumb'!

 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.  Colossians 3:18

The word that stopped me alive in my tracks was the word 'fit' so I decided to look it up.  Guess what? It means fit (like suitable)! Nothing earth shattering!  As I looked at the immediate context, I could see that 'in the Lord' goes along with it. Duh! Again that is easy to see.

What is 'fit in the Lord? The Word of God contains all wisdom that pertains to life, so whatever is fitting about the husband and wife relationship has got to be in there. The larger, whole context for the word needs to be taken into account, not an isolated verse here and there. Any person can make the word say what he wants it to say by taking things out of the setting of the whole Bible.

So how about the very first husband/wife relationship? In the beginning God set everything up and then turned around and said that it was all very good.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Eve was given a brain and had thinking capabilities, along with (uh-oh) free-will choice. If God made her that way in the beginning, he must of had a reason!

Galatians 3:28 is breathtaking:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

There are  many examples of outstanding women in the Bible like Debra, Sarah, Hannah, Ruth, Esther, Mary, Pricilla, Phebe, Junia, Lydia, Mary Magdalene and numerous other women.

Mary is a great example of submitting as it is 'fit' in the Lord. When the angel told Mary about the child she was to bear did she run to Joseph and say: "Honey I need to run something by you."?  Why didn't God go first to Joseph and tell him what he needed and then tell Joseph to discuss this with Mary? God worked with each of them individually. She submitted to Joseph as it was 'fit' in the Lord. Joseph also  responded as it was 'fit' in the Lord.   Joseph helped Mary do what God had called her to do.

Every marriage has a unique footprint, that is what becoming one flesh is all about. It involves commitment, work and believing in the 'Christ in' each other. Each individual person has a unique way to minister to others and each marriage is a melding of two separate callings into a mutual arrangement. The spirit of God works through the wife and works through the husband:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-13 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

 To submit one to another is to have a relationship arrangement. Women are different from men and have different capabilities. Adam and Eve were designed to complement and help one another.   Marriage is a decision to have a permanent relationship. Every marriage is different, because two different individuals are brought together to figure out how to operate as a unit. It is fascinating!

The act of submission defined in the Bible can effect any relationship, not just a married couple.

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear (reverence) of God. Epehsians 5:21 

Individuals are different and have different attributes, characteristics, skills, culture, upbringing and chemistry. Submission doesn't mean 'you are the boss of me'. Leadership is such a big word today, but biblically is is synonymous with servanthood. God's word is the standard and guidepost.  'Doormat' theology is not the point, it is about  the art and love of serving with recognition of the individuality of a person's heart. Bottom line, 'submission' is dealing with each other where the focus is not 'all about me'. It is true in marriage; it is true in any relationship. Jesus Christ is the best example and the reason for every season, not just the holidays.

New Life In Christ Even at The Mall

Jesus Christ is the reason for every season. He is not the a figurehead of just the feasts of celebration like Christmas and Easter; he is the life changer of everyday living. God has provided a means of bridging man's distance from Himself through the accomplishment of His son. We work in conjunction with the Father and His son through the unique gift of holy spirit. It is a relationship (I John 1:3), not  a contract.

I have heard people teach about Jesus Christ as the 'absent Christ' and that phrase is perplexing to me. How can he be absent? Spiritually he is not really absent because of how God has designed the universe. Jesus Christ is the head of the church. Nothing takes his place because of his divine appointment. The Word does not take his place.  Instead the Word is fulfilled in a risen Christ. The Word explains who Christ is. The book of Colossians is a great explanation of the 'how' our life is enriched by God's son as the head. If we let the word dwell richly within us (Colossians 3:16) and allow it to bring rest to our hearts, we can no long confess an 'absent Christ' or complicate God's provision by  theologizing about 'absent' Christs. It is all really quite simple. Man has complicated it.

God really loved the world in sending His son (John 3:16). It is in His son we find real life, a peace and and abundance beyond anything we could ever dream up. The greatest joy is in the fellowship (relationship) with an awesome Father, His son and all those who belong to Him. God surrounds us with powerful relationships and He knows what we need when it comes to fellowship! It is absolutely amazing.

Last weekend when I was driving the perimeter of perhaps one of the largest malls in the world, I got a phone call from my sis. Traffic was unimaginable and the sky was pelting the pavement with big chunks of sloppy snow! I relished the thought of pulling into a parking spot and calling her back. She said she'd call back. I went into a store got what I went for and just as I was about to pull away, she called (perfect timing) and there I sat with all the hustle and bustle going on around me, talking about grace, God and more grace!

The world may swirl around about us, pelting us with this or that, but we are never alone or very far from those who are a part of our church in the true sense of the Word. Jesus Christ is building the church (not the brick and mortar, stained-glass type)

I Peter 2:6-6 [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame. Amplified Bible

Romans 10:9-10 Revisited

We all know what the resurrection is all about. God raised Jesus from the dead over 2000 years ago! That means he is still alive.  We know from the Bible he walked around in his resurrected body for a while and it had some amazing capabilities.

Over fourteen times in the New Testament, Jesus is described now as sitting on the right hand of God. God doesn't have a physical hand, but this is a figure of speech much like what was said about Joseph and Pharoah. We use this figure today when we talk about a leader's assistant as a right-hand man. Jesus Christ ascended to the right hand of God meaning he carries the authority of God to be Lord over the body of Christ.

How many people today really think of Jesus as being alive?