My dearest sister in Christ,
I am writing this letter to you today with a humble heart. Forgive me for not writing to you sooner. I must admit that even though life has been hectic and at times even chaotic, the primary reason for this letter’s delay is the subject matter.
Each time I have set out to put my thoughts to you in order, I have been challenged by my own heart’s attitude. I could easily write to you with what it means to be submissive and even offer a few helpful “how to” tips. Those are good and noble for sure.
However, as I have examined my own heart (as best as I possibly could with the help of the Holy Spirit) it seems to me that the greatest help, the best encouragement that I can offer to you in this matter, is that it is a matter of the heart. So, I must ask; where does your heart lie? How is it positioned with regards to submission? To whom does your heart belong, even?
It is at this place that we ALL must start: “For where your treasure is, there you will also find your heart.” (Matthew 6:21) Really, truly, everything comes down to the matter of the heart which is why Solomon wrote “Keep your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23). Jesus warned the religious zealots; “… what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person” (Matthew 15:18)
We say we love Christ. We avow it is our heart’s desire to follow Him all the days of our lives. We say we might even go to the farthest reaches of this globe (earth) to proclaim His Truth and Beauty. Yet, in the matter of submitting to our husbands there is that devilish little word…”but” which negates any lovely intention we have to obey the Word of God. Once we add that little three letter word to the end of our intention we remove the sincerity of our vows. That little word is a detour within our hearts which mostly reside on the avenue of Trust and Obey. The detour takes us down the dark alley of Unbelief that weaves in and around our hearts like a maze.
This is the culprit that lurks within all of our hearts, and when they are tested (and they will be) they will come face to face with Unbelief. Do I trust what God has said to be true? Do I believe that God is Good? Do I trust that in His perfect time and way all will be revealed and that justice belongs to Him alone?
There is no way for me to know from what perspective your heart is reading this letter today. God alone is the heart knower. However, I can tell you, I feel I must even warn you that circumstances often distort our perspectives. Just as a pilot must constantly look to the instruments of the airplane to determine the position of the aircraft in relation to the horizon, we must always check the position of our heart in relation to God and His Word. He will always right our perspective. He will never leave us or forsake us. He tenderly cares for those who are His and He is jealous for His own. He promises to bring us through the storm and just as we begin to sink in the ocean of despair He holds out His hand to rescue us. He has given us a spirit of adoption as children by whom we cry “Abba!” “Father!”
Stop, and ask yourself; where is my heart’s position at this moment? Come out from that dark alley of Unbelief dear sister and walk with Christ along the Avenue of Trust and Obey.
Steadfastly,
Susan