"Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband" (Eph. 5:33 KJV).

Submission is an act of faith, just as marriage is an act of faith. For example, the wife submits herself to her husband because she sees him as valuable and precious, and she knows that she will receive full provision from him just as the Church does from Christ. But she also submits to him in faith in God's Word.

The Greek word for "submit" can often be interchanged with the word humble. It is similar to the Greek word for the God-kind of love - agape - because it embodies the same meaning. In fact, submission generates or creates that kind of love.

The character of the person who is submitting determines submission. When we look at submission this way, it makes it much easier to do. The reason why so many people won't submit to each other is that they're looking at it from the standpoint of, that person doesn't deserve my submitting to him.

But submission is not based on someone else. It is based on you—the person doing the submitting. Whether or not you submit to someone is based on your character and your attitude toward doing what God has told you to do.

When I talk about love and marriage, I think of a particular song, "What's Love Got to Do With It?" It is a perfect example of the world's way of loving, which really doesn't have anything to do with it! Genuine love, God's love, is altogether different.

Love is not an abstract concept that cannot be defined. Love is an action—a commitment expressed in real ways with certain characteristics that make it clearly recognizable. Love lasts. It keeps on going. It is kind, instead of harm, it does good. It does not insist on its own rights or way.

Love rejoices when anything that agrees with God's Word prevails. Love bears up under anything and everything. It is always ready to believe the best about everyone, including the spouse. It knows no weakness, but endures anything. With a track record like that, no wonder love never fails!

Keith Butler Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.