A great Friday to each of you! Today's devotion is on Ephesians 5:33, which says; "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverance her husband." I know that we touched on this verse ealier this week, but I wanted to take a deeper look at what this means for wives to "reverance, or respect" their husbands. In 1st Peter 3:6, the verse reads like this; "Even Sarah obeyed Abram, calling him lord;whose daughers you are, as long as you do well and are not afraid with an amazement." Now, if we really look at the stories of her husband Abram in Genesis chapters 12 and 20, we see that he made some pretty bad choices that affected her directly. Sarah could have chosen to be disrespectful to her husband because of these choices, but the Bible tells us in this verse, she respected him still calling him lord. This didn't mean that she was calling her husband God, but did mean that she recognized him as her headship under God. We see her name again in Hebrews chapter 11:11 being held in high regards as a woman of faith. This was most likely, because she recognized God's word and honored her husband, even though he lied several times in these instances. Wives, always remember that God will honor you when you honor his Word.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). "Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the Word, they also may without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives" ( 1st Peter3:1) What a way to start out today's devotion! Yes, this is God's word and responsibilities for wives that want to be Godly, however many times when the word submission is heard it creates a feeling that is less than desireable in us. Understanding this role will help with this feeling of being overrun by someone or being weak. This is not at all what God means by this. God is a God of order, and the Apostle Paul tells us this in 1st Timothy 2: 9-13, and in 1 Cor. 11: 8-12. In these verses, we see that God made the man first, then the woman. So the Order was God, man, then woman. The headship of man is God, and the headship of woman is man according to God's divine order. Man is called with the responsibility to Love his wife and be the one that leads her, and his family in the ways of God, in which he will give an account to God of how he did this. The wife is to submit to this authority, realizing that He must be submissive to God's authority. One qualifier though is this. Submission is not required if asked to participate in ungodly activities, or in an abusive relationship. When participating in God's divine order, there will always be blessing.

Today is another great day to talk about the plan that God has for the family. We've been talking this week about the wife's responsibilty the past few days and again we are going to look deeper at what it means to become one flesh as spelled out in Genesis 2:24. So often immediately after getting married, either the husband or the wife set out to change one another into who they want the other to be. This was never God's plan, as he created each of us to be just who we are. According to Psalm 139:14, the psalmist says that each one of us has been fearfully and wonderfully made, with unique personalities and traits. In a marriage, husbands and wives are to take those uniques traits and blend them into one beautiful relationship, without trying to make to other just like themselves. In this past weeks sermon, I read an article from Kendra Zickafoose, in which she shared how she thought "helping" her husband meant changing all of his ways to hers. She ended the article realizing that is wasn't the wives job to mold their husbands into what they wanted them to be, but to help them become the men that God wanted them to be. This was done through daily prayer for them, listening instead of talking and learning to love them more. This was good advice, and by applying God's word, produced much better results in her marriage.

it's a beautiful Tuesday, and we thank the Lord for another day to honor and serve Him. Today we want to focus on Genesis 2:18, where God said it was not good that man should be alone, and that He would make a help meet for Adam. Wives, this is the very first responsibility that you have in your marriage, to be a help meet. So what does this mean? The words mean that God has called wives to be helpers to their husbands, and they are suitable for them, or harmonize with them. It's important to know that God never intended for man and wife to be the same, they are to compliment each other, as God has given a part of Himself to man and the other part to woman. This is why Genesis 2:24 says that a man shall cleave to his wife and they two should become one flesh. To help your husband means to be his friend and trusted partner according to Proverbs 31:10-12. It also means be his prayer warrior and encourager, unlike what Proverbs 21:9 which tells us about a brawling woman in a home. Think about this quote from fruitfulvinewoman.com; "What a helpmate is not....not manipulating, not controlling or taking authority over your husband or tricking him into doing things my way." Food for thought in embracing the role of a wife according to God's Word.

A very good day to all of you. In today's society, our culture has become so busy, with family values being torn apart. It was God's plan to have the husband be the spiritual leader in the family, leading his family to God, to church and to loving one another. God's plan for the wife was to love God, reverence or respect her husband, love her family and teach them the ways of God through being a Godly example. The Apostle Pauls tells us in Ephesians 5:33 "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." Also in Proverbs 6:20, the writer tells his son to not forsake the law, or teachings of his mother. There are definite roles that each play in the family. If we want family unity, we must keep the roles that God has layed out for us to follow. As we go through our day today, lets examine ourselves to see if we are keeping our role as God has layed it out for us.

Acknowledging the biblical roles within a family aims to promote unity, reflecting the same harmony God desires for the Church. Just as every member of the Church is significant, so too are the roles within a family, each contributing to its unity and strength. 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 warns against division, encouraging members to care for one another in love and harmony. Your family can only thrive when there is understanding and cooperation among its members, each respecting and fulfilling their divine roles. Reflect on whether your family dynamics promote unity or unintentionally foster division. Are you fostering an environment where every member feels valued and integral? Pray for the grace to strengthen family bonds, seeking reconciliation where necessary and promoting peace and understanding in everyday interactions. Encourage open communication and mutual respect among your family, emphasizing that unity makes your family stronger together, just as God intends for His Church.

In Ephesians 6:4 , the apostle Paul advises fathers not to provoke their children to wrath but to raise them with discipline and instruction in the Lord. This speaks to the balance between discipline and compassion in parenting. Correction is necessary but must be administered in a loving manner that doesn’t incite anger or resentment. Fathers should discipline not out of frustration but with the intent to guide their children towards righteousness and maturity. Reflect on your methods of correction. Are they in line with the compassionate approach God desires? Fathers, consider whether your actions might provoke rather than teach. Seek to discipline with compassion, combining firmness with love. Pray for your children, asking God to nurture their growth in faith and character. As you guide them, remember that your ultimate goal is to direct them towards Christ, fostering a lifelong relationship with Him through your example and teaching.

This past week's sermon emphasized the role of fathers in raising children, highlighting the significance of fatherhood in shaping future generations. Psalm 127:3-5 views children as a blessing, a heritage from the Lord, symbolizing the profound impact parents have on their lives. Fathers have a responsibility not just to provide but to nurture and instruct their children in the way of the Lord, fostering an environment where they can understand and experience God’s love and grace. This includes teaching integrity, compassion, and the importance of submitting to God’s authority. Reflect on your approach to parenting. Are you actively showing your children the love and compassion of Christ? Are you preparing them to engage the world with a firm foundation in faith? Seek God’s guidance on how to be a more effective father, setting an example of godliness and love for your children. Pray for patience and wisdom as you navigate the challenges of parenthood, ensuring that you lead your children by example and instill in them values that will guide them throughout their lives.

One of the most profound teachings regarding husbands is found in Ephesians 5:25-28, where Paul commands husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the Church. This love is sacrificial, unending, and transformative. Loving like Christ means prioritizing your spouse’s needs and well-being over your own desires, and even more importantly, nurturing her spiritual growth and maintaining her value. This form of love leads to a healthy relationship where both partners feel valued and cherished. Consider how you express love within your marriage. Reflect on whether your actions mirror the sacrificial love Christ expects of you. Are you quick to anger, or do you approach conflicts with grace and understanding? Pray for the capacity to love genuinely and selflessly, immitating Christ in every way. Let your words and deeds be manifestations of this love, showing your spouse that she is treasured not only by you but by God. By loving your spouse in this manner, you strengthen your marriage and display God’s love through your relationship.

Genesis 2:20-24 details God’s creation of male and female, setting in motion the divine order for relationships between husbands and wives. God is very clear in this passage, where the husband is male and the wife is female, contrary to what our current society is telling us. Biblical roles are not archaic rules but divine insights into how relationships should function effectively. God’s creation of Adam and Eve shows His intention for partnerships that complement and support one another. Husbands are to leave their parents and unite with their wives, forming a new, independent family unit. This unity requires Love and loyalty to the wife, and for the husband to lead his wife in the ways of righteousness. Husbands, seek to align your relationship with your wife with God’s word, finding areas where cultural norms might have blurred your understanding of God’s plan. Pray for clarity and wisdom to embrace God's divine order in your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas where you may need to adjust your attitudes or actions toward your role in the family. Let this understanding guide you in fostering a loving, balanced, and God-centered family.