Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Reflective Relationships
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How easy it would be to be spiritual if we didn’t have to hang around other people! There is more than a little irony in what I just said. In the first place, God does not want us to act spiritual. He wants us to be Spirit-filled. Secondly, if I am not right when I’m around people, then I am not right with God because our relationship to other people is a reflection of our relationship to God.
Ephesians 5 talks about the importance of being governed by God’s Spirit. Ephesians 5:21 says, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” It is all too easy to think that you love God, but just can’t stand people. If I am not loving people and doing right by people, I don’t love God, and I am not doing right by God. It is easy to have an attitude that says, “Well, I obey God only. No one else tells me what to do.” If I am not obeying the authorities God has placed in my life, I am not obeying God either because my religion is only as good as my actions.
Ephesians 5 and 6 are full of examples of relationships between people that are a reflection on their relationship to God. Ephesians 5:22 says, “Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” Verse 25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it.” Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” Verse 5 says, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh…” Lastly, verse 9 says, “And, ye masters, do the same things unto them…knowing that your Master also is in heaven.” Our relationship to others is a reflection of our relationship to God.