Questions to consider:
- What does it mean to "be subject"?
- Who is the author talking to?
- Who needs to be subject? Who are we subject to?
I know that this is only one verse, and it's a short one too. But its brevity does not make it less important. We start with this verse entirely on its own so that we might be able to use it to frame the discussion that comes next. Some texts separate this verse from the discussion of husbands and wives that follows, while others include it as the opening verse for the section. Since we've split the chapter so as to include it with the ending portion, it seems appropriate to use it here.
This call is not made to a particular person or group of people, but to everyone. We are to respect, honor, and be subject to (other translations use the verb "submit") one another, and we do this out of reverence for Christ. It seems like this means that we need to value the thoughts, feelings, and input of others, even when they're contrary to our own. That can be a difficult thing to do, particularly when we are in positions of power or are convinced that we are right about something. But God calls us to put our own desires or ambitions aside. Today, let's ask for the humility to be truly subject to one another, out of reverence for Christ. Ask God to give you vision for what that looks like, and the courage to put it into practice.
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