The man is the head of the woman, just as Christ also is the head of the church.  Christ is, indeed, the Saviour of the body; but just as the church is subject to Christ, so must women be to their husbands in everything.
Ephesians  5:23, 24  NEB


Just as Jesus is the head of the church and the Saviour of his people, so the husband is to be a saving head and influence over his family.  No wife and family need fear to subject themselves to that kind of home leader.


Christian marriage is not an expedient, nor is it an experiment.  God, the originator of the home, laid down specific principles in the very beginning to safeguard the happiness of both husband and wife.  The Saviour watches jealously over every marriage union, for He knows that each time Satan succeeds in destroying a home he obliterates to a degree the union that should exist between God and His children.  The devil also is well aware of this, and he works tirelessly to bring about dissension and heartache within the sacred confines of the home circle.


Ellen White wrote a special message to a bridge and groom, each 21 years of age, who had been married three months.  May I suggest that husbands and wives read this fine counsel together on a monthly basis.  The concepts are ennobling and practical:


"Live for the glory of God.  Be tender, kind, and courteous to each other.  The happiness of your life will consist in making God your your trust, and in seeking to make each other happy.  Practice self-control.  It is so easy to speak thoughtlessly, words that grieve and wound.  Do not venture to trifle with each other's feelings.  Practice patience, encourage love, discipline yourselves to guard every word and action, and study how you can be a blessing to each other....


"Never make a third person your confidante.  Your private life is sacred; keep the barriers high, that no one may presume to intrude into the sacred circle....


"A word more: do not speak a word in jest that shall injure or reflect upon the other.  Never recount the mistakes, or errors, or faults of each other in the presence of a third person, or in company, be the circle ever so select.  Live for God and for each other."  -- Letter 16a, 1870


taken from: First Things First
                      October 31
                 by: Bob Spangler