Ephesians 5:31-32

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. this mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."

We are to leave all other in this world and cling to our spouses. Whatever is in this world that satisfies - job, children, possessions, status, comfort...ladies, what is the first thing that you think of when I say, "What brings you the most joy in this world?"  Don't blurt it out because it could be very embarrassing.

This refers to Christ and the church. What did Christ do for the church? He died for her. He willingly laid down his life for His bride. That's what God calls husbands to do every day for their wives. God is glorified in that.

But, what must the bride do? 

Ephesians 5:22 - Wives, submit to your husbands, as to the Lord.

Colossians 3:18 - Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

We can talk about the word submit all day long. It has been discussed many times, by so many better than I. The little phrases at the end of each of those two verses keep jumping out at me. 

"as to the Lord" and "as is fitting in the Lord"

If we filter everything we do for or against our husbands through those words, how would our lives change? I bet we wouldn't -

• grumble under our breath
• text a thoughtless comment 
• sigh a little extra loudly to get the point across
• roll our eyes
• think thoughts that are less than God honoring
• "forget" to do something that he asked to be done

• allow our children to say, do or think less than honorable thoughts about their father
• be easily offended because he is exhausted from working 

That's just a short list of that came to mind quickly. What are the "little" responses that you sinfully make in response to your husband? 

If the phrase "as is fitting in the Lord" was on the minds of more women, how could our marriages be changed?  It's these "little" sins that compound. They become huge when multiplied. 

So, right now, write across your heart, "as is fitting in the Lord." How will you respond to a hurt, reply to a thoughtless word, repent of a sinful deed? There are so many things in our lives that could call for a "big" response. Filtering our responses through this lens would make dramatic changes. 

If you don't know what "as is fitting in the Lord" means, try spending some time in the Psalms.  The psalmist knows the Almighty, ever present God who created the universe and is involved in the tiny details of our lives. Worshipping that God gives earthly brides a way to honor their earthly husbands.