Bringing Jesus Home, Part 1

  • Jason Smith
  • Nov 23, 2008
  • Series: Walk the Line: A study of Colossians

There is much confusion and frustration in the world today when it comes to marriage.  The divorce rate is over 50 percent and swells to over 70 percent for those who were previously married.  The statistics don't look much different for those who call themselves Christians.  The divorce rate in the church mirrors the world, instead of shining the light of Christ into the darkness.  It seems that men and women just can't get along, at least not for a lifetime.  All of us have been touched by a marriage that has fallen apart or exploded.  For some, it was your own marriage.  For others, it was your parents.  For some, a friend or relative.  No matter what your experience, you may be asking, how can a couple honor Christ through their marriage for a lifetime?  Maybe you are struggling in your relationship with your spouse right now.  Maybe your parents are struggling in their relationship right now.    Today, we all need to hear how we can have a different kind of relationship from those around us.  A kind of relationship that functions as it has been designed to function.  A kind of relationship that brings glory to God as it is meant to.  When it comes to our walk with Christ Paul does not leave us without instruction on God's intention for marriage.  We pick up our study of his words to the Colossians in 3:18-19, 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

Paul is not known for being so succinct.  He is often blamed for being longwinded and at times confusing.  He actually spoke so long on one occasion that a young man who was sitting and listening decided to move over to the window for some fresh air, but ended up falling asleep and plummeting to his death out the window.  Fortunately for him, God had given Paul the ability to bring him back to life.  And guess what Paul did, he continued to teach.  So, when we come to this passage and see the brevity of Paul's words, it is kind of surprising.   He gives clear and concise commands to the wife (submit) and to the husband (love).  I believe that Paul didn't want to detract from the force of his letter to the Colossians in confronting the false teaching that they were facing, but wanted to make sure to remind them how to bring Jesus home in their marriage.  He wasn't trying to write the best book on the issue of marriage, but he wanted to make sure that the Colossians understood that our relationship with Christ has ramifications on our relationship with our spouse.  We are to "do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus."  Fortunately for us, this is not the only place that Paul speaks on the issue of marriage.  Actually, it may have been with the fact that he was writing another letter to the nearby church at Ephesus that had a more extensive treatment that kept Paul from going in depth here.  So, let's look at the parallel passage in Ephesians 5:22-33 to more fully understand what Paul is trying to say to us about marriage.