This week we took another chunk of Paul’s letter to the church of the Colossians. Up until this point we’ve seen Paul tell us to follow Christ. He’s been pretty specific about how important it is to follow but pretty abstract about what that looks like in our day to day lives. Here in Colossians 3:18-4:1 he takes time to break this down and applies it to our most critical life relationships.

It’s no accident that Paul begins with the relationship of a husband and a wife. For married peopel, this is the most important relationship they’ll ever have. Now we must understand that I’m working under the presupposition that a marriage is lifelong union between one man and one woman. There’s a bunch there. Lifelong. It means you’re not going to fall out of love and give up. It means that in good and bad times you’re going to lean into each other instead of away from each other. Union. That means you once were two individuals but now because of this crazy, cool thing called marriage your once twoness is now oneness! Man and woman. Yep, I’m one of those traditional people that still think marriage was given by God for the purpose of raising a family. And since biologically that can only happen between a man and a woman, yes that means I believe marriage is for one man and one woman.

Paul makes some startling statements about submission and love. About supporting and following. Take a minute to read Colossians 3:18-4:1. Consider which of these statements apply to you. Don’t focus on the ones that apply to someone else. Just look at the ones that are for you. If you’re a wife, don’t focus too heavily on how your husband matches up. If you’re a husband, don’t use this passage to tell your wife to serve you! Then after you read the verses give this week’s message a listen and see how God might be calling you to a different kind of life when you apply his teachings.