Colossians 3:17-19–Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation

Posted by Seth on Dec 31, 2009 in Bible Study, Daily Devotions |

Colossians 3:17-19–Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation

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Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Colossians 3:17-19 wherein we are given the basic responsibilities of the husband and wife toward one another as they would seek the Lord together.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

There are movies, games, and jokes that highlight the differences between men and women, noting the things that they desire from one another and what they are (or are not) willing to give to the other. Many times, such depictions are very humorous because, even though stereotyping is what is being used, we can see elements of truth in what is being said. But comics aren’t the only ones who recognize that men and women are different and face challenges in relating to one another. In actuality, God set things up that way and the apostle Paul relays a bit of God’s set-up here in his letter to the Colossians.

He starts by putting the exact same thing before both sexes, calling for a complete dedication unto the Lord. Carrying the name of Jesus as our identification and source of purpose with hearts of continual thankfulness to the Father whom we know through Jesus, there are some specific commands for men and women that, when obeyed, will produce wonderful things in a marriage relationship. And the notable things about these directives is that they are simple and straightforward in a foundational sense.

Wives are told that their primary responsibility toward their husbands is that of submission, something that is fitting in the Lord as it follows with the pattern of headship throughout the Scriptures. Christ is said to be the head of us all, the great Bridegroom who sacrificially, protectively, and lovingly leads the bride, otherwise known as the church. The wife is to accept the authority of the husband not because the husband knows how to exercise his headship perfectly, but because the relationship models itself after that of Jesus and the universal church body. Every marriage is meant to be a little picture of this larger reality, giving everyone who looks at the union a reason to turn their eyes toward Jesus. The husbands then are to exercise special love and tenderness toward their wives. Their goal is not to fight for the leadership role in a power-abusing way but instead to smother her with kindness and service flowing from a well of God-given strength exercised with continuous self-control.

Though verses like these in the Scriptures have become increasingly less popular in our day, we’ve strayed away from them in large part because we didn’t exercise them rightly in the first place, sending us into problem after heart-breaking problem. To the married I say that we must make the necessary changes called for and so start heeding God’s command. And to the single who are hoping for marriage one day, don’t tie the knot before looking together at God’s design for the roles that He has put in place for each of you.

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