Scripture:

Do I live an “over” or “under” life?

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” Ephesians 5:21-30 “And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Submit: “Place yourself under, to give allegiance to, to tend to the needs of, to be responsive to.” Out of a respect and reverence for Jesus we are commanded to follow Jesusʼ example of love and sacrifice. We are to die to ourselves so that others might experience life. Therefore, we are to love and serve those around us and place their needs ahead of our own.

For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

Wives are commanded to do what everyone else is commanded to do - submit.

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of Godʼs word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.”

Husbands are to love and live like Jesus. To sacrifice, to die to self, and to give his all for his wife.

How has Jesus treated the church? How does that influence our response to Him?

What about the husband being the “head” or the “spiritual leader?” For the answer look to Jesus. His example was sacrifice. He initiated, He served, He protected, He healed, He provided, and He put the needs of others in front of His own. Jesusʼ lived out His authority in a “power under” way.

Power Over:

Promote self. Exercising power over someone. Power to inflict pain on those who threaten or defy authority. Using might and threat of force. Committed to gaining the upper hand. This can control behavior and produce conformity.

Power Under:

Follow Jesus. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as better than ourselves. Look not to our own interests, but to the interest of others. Seek the advantage of others. Love our neighbor, serve, sacrifice, do good, bear others burdens, and outdo one another in showing honor. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, take in the homeless, visit the condemned, etc... Power found in weakness, the humble are exalted, and the greatest serve. This can transform people from the inside out. John 13:3-5 (Jesus with His followers.) “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciplesʼ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.” John 13:12-15 “After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ʻTeacherʼ and ʻLord,ʼ and you are right, because thatʼs what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each otherʼs feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.”

Luke 22:24-27 (Jesus with His bickering followers.) “Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ʻfriends of the people.ʼ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.”

So now what?

Jesus received divine authority. With His power over everything in heaven and earth He used it to assume the position of a common household servant and washed the dirty feet of those who He knew would betray and forsake Him. Jesus leads by the towel.

Are you following Jesus and leading by the towel with those around you? What would it look like to submit to your spouse? To your children? To your friends? To your parents? To your co-workers? To your enemies? Where is it difficult to submit to one another? Why? Power Under starters: stop, reflect, and respond! > Ask: How would Jesus respond? Study & Obey. > Ask: Is this an “over” or “under” response?