21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
I am filled with tension regarding the following verses:
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ > for me this means I should serve the Lord in everything I do - be humble and glorify Him in all of my roles. This is often difficult for me at work and I often fail here.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. > for me this means I should prominently play the role of head of the household, particularly in spiritual matters. In particular this verse:
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word...
My Prayer: Lord, You are great, holy, and mighty - and You have blessed me beyond what I deserve. I am not worthy of such love, grace, and blessing - yet You provide it all the same. Forgive me please for my weakness in my role as spiritual head of household...help me as Paul says "make [my wife] holy, cleansing her by washing of the word". Give me strength Lord in this area. Purify me of my weakness and selfishness and help me glorify You by performing the roles and duties as head of the household as You intend for me and all men.
