Submission often carries negative connotations for modern Christians because of past abuses where it was used to justify domineering behavior. However, Jesus demonstrated submission by accepting his Father's will and the cross, showing that "submission" isn't inherently a bad word.

In Ephesians 5:22-24, this concept is further explored, portraying the husband's leadership should be like Christ's over the church—defined by love, sacrifice, and service, not dominance. Elisabeth Elliot Gren's quote, "The best thing a woman can do for her husband is to make it easy for him to do the will of God," highlights the supportive role a wife plays in enabling her husband to fulfill his spiritual responsibilities and live out his faith. However, this submission is not about blind obedience; it involves active participation and, when necessary, loving correction to guide each other back to Christ's example.

The essence of this teaching isn't about establishing worldly authority but reflecting the loving, sacrificial relationship between Christ and the Church. In this dynamic, both husband and wife are meant to look out for each other out of love and reverence for Christ, creating a home that's all about unity and peace, just like the church should be.

Let us strive in our marriages to embody the love, sacrifice, and service Christ showed us. By submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ, we can build homes filled with peace and unity, reflecting the very heart of the church. In submission, we find strength in Christ's love, not weakness.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I confess I am often tempted not to submit to any human, but to throw off the yokes of human submission while hoping and demanding for others to submit to me. Forgive me the sins of wanting to be on the throne of my own life and wanting to boss others around also. Help me learn to bear the yoke of mutual submission. Help me do my duty toward brothers and sisters in Jesus of loving and being generous to them, being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Help me to humble myself and climb down from the throne of my life and to realize that if Jesus is truly on the throne of my life, he will be speaking through his people in my life and that listening to them is listening to him. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. 

Married: Consider a practical way to make it easier for your spouse to do the will of God; share it with them and ask if that would be helpful. Some ideas might include being respectful of their personal time with the Lord; being supportive of a certain amount of time spent in service or ministry; making room in the budget for expenses that might be related to God’s will for them; or making a time to come together specifically for the purpose of praying in agreement for God’s will. 

Single: Is there something you can do to make it easier for a friend to do the will of God? Or a way you can help each other? Some ideas might be doing a Bible study together; keeping prayer journals and sharing prayer requests and answers; partnering to witness to others who don’t know Jesus; or helping one another to set a specific goal for service or ministry.