Sheriff Badge

WORD PICTURE: SHERIFF BADGE

Scriptural Reference: Ephesians 5:22-24

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

1. Have someone(s) read the scripture from various translations:

2. Using a sheriff badge, (point out that the badge is a symbol of authority), encourage sharing by starting with a particularly controversial one, such as mine given below.

What I Shared

In various Twelve Steps programs, participants are advised that “you’ve got to give it away to keep it.” I’ve been applying that principle lately to my marriage, in which I had always considered myself equal in authority to my husband. What I’ve discovered is that I was wrong -- correct that we are equal as people, but incorrect about equality in authority. My opinion did not line up with the Word of God, who established Godly Order in the covenant of marriage so that the wife is cherished by her husband as Christ cherishes His Bride, the church (Ephesians 5).

My interpretation: the wife is “under” her husband, but valued and protected and honored. This order is not about domination or abuse; it’s about order -- order to ensure that not everyone is in charge at once. My pastor is my spiritual protector, and my husband is my earthly protector -- both for MY sake, not their own. In giving away some of my original (self-appointed) authority, I find I am getting MORE of what I need -- not less.

It has been amazing to watch my non-Christian husband hear from God and actually know what’s best for me. I guess it has nothing to do with whether or not he believes in Jesus -- but has everything to do with how God established the order to operate effectively. The result? When I give up my authority by submitting ideas for my husband’s input, guess what? I get it all back -- plus “permission” from the husband God informs as to what is best for me and us and our family.

All Scripture references from the New International Version of the Bible (NIV).

Getting Real with God

(and with each other!)