Mawage.

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Susan Wheeler Smith

“Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam…And wuv, tru wuv…” The Princess Bride

We are having us some good Sunday school teaching from Andy Stanley.

iMarriage is the name. Submission is the game.

MUTUAL submission, that is.

You might remember this post.

Andy took it up a notch this week and hit us with mutual submission.

He reminded us that “love is a gift”. The love we give. The love we receive. My #1 love language is gifts. Hmmmmm.

Ephesians 5:21 tells us to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

It does NOT say because my spouse deserves it. It does NOT say because I deserve it.

Ephesians 5:21 makes it clear that we are to submit to one another out of reverence (according to Webster’s, “honor or respect felt or shown : deference; especially : profound adoring awed respect”) for Christ. Not for each other.

For Christ.

Andy made a couple of points that really connected with me. There are three in our marriage. My Husband, me and first and foremost, God.

“We are to express our gratitude to God through our treatment of the person we married.”

“God wants us to be the vessels through which He pours out His love on our spouse.”

Powerful stuff, indeed.

Comments

8 responses to “Mawage.”

  1. Teri Avatar
    Teri

    Good stuff! One thing we learned pretty early in our marriage is that we can not outserve each other. It is along the same premise…we serve one another not to be served in return, but as unto the Lord. It honors Him when we have a heart of servitude toward our spouse. It works too…keeps the marriage clicking along just fine when we choose to lay down our lives…that is the key though…dying to the dang flesh! Anyway, I left my favorite blogger friend another gift on my site…:)Hugs!

    Reply
  2. Bev Brandon Avatar
    Bev Brandon

    How neat for you.Andy Stanley is so speaking to young people in our colleges here in Texas.Just curious—did he call it “mutual submission”?

    Reply
  3. Jeni Avatar
    Jeni

    I’ve seen bits and pieces of this series, and I was impressed! I’d like to go through the whole thing someday.

    Reply
  4. Bev Brandon Avatar
    Bev Brandon

    PS – Thanks for the cute comment. My son is in with the popular crowd and that is a challenge but they are good kids, very good kids who love God and walk with Him. They have to find their own faith. Been so surrounded by our strong beliefs. Tested this year and the repentance has been so sweet and so pure and so lovely. It’s not about doing all the right things but finding a relationship with their Author. And they’re kids who haven’t faced a lot of suffering either. Although my son has been through a little in our situation. Have a great night and thanks for praying for me. I managed to stay awake all day today—let’s see if I can sleep tonight, hope so. Love you my dear. Bev PS – won our basketball game tonight by a lot 🙂

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  5. Julie Avatar
    Julie

    Do you live in Atlanta??? Or are you listening to Andy somewhere else?I just read about mutual submission last night in Rob Bell’s book “Sex God” which by the way is an excellent book. My husband and I have been reading it together.Thanks for sharing. I am new to blogging. It’s nice to meet you.Many blessings,Julie

    Reply
  6. Fran Avatar
    Fran

    Whoa! Yep. Submit out of reverance to God and not out of a duty or obligation. His ways are the only way. I needed to say that out loud to myself. 🙂Thank ya!

    Reply
  7. Julie Avatar
    Julie

    Susan, Thanks for stopping by my blog. To be honest with you I can’t remember how I found you. I responded to someone’s blog and saw your response and clicked on your name….and the rest is history. We just moved from Atlanta, less than a year ago.In fact we moved 1 1/2 hour north of Andy Stanley’s church. He’s an awesome teacher. I hear you on the “ugly cry” when letting go of kids. Just carry ALOT of tissue as you drop your son off. It’s a bitter sweet thing. My daughter ended up going to England. She will be there until April and then they will go to another country for an outreach. She is hoping for Africa. When it comes time to leave your son behind, come back to my blog and I will cry with you! Have a blessed day,Julie

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  8. The Millers Avatar
    The Millers

    You are so great! I am reading Love & Respect right now and feeling very convicted! Yikes! I’ll have to check out Andy Stanley as well. Thanks for all you do! You brighten my day, everyday and make me feel like “I’m not the only one!” 🙂

    Reply

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