One Heart and Purpose

"Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose."  --Philippians 2:2

Submitting in marriage has not been easy for me.  Not even a little bit easy.

When I peel back all the layers and excuses (even the really good excuses that make ya just want to scream!), I think that it's simply pride that keeps me from true submission...the kind of submission that goes deep in the heart...and flows out in action.

"Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.  Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God.  He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.  And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross."  --Philippians 2:5-8

I can say amen.  I can sing about this all day.  I can agree in my mind.  I can even blog about it and make it look official.  But until it penetrates my heart so deeply that it flows out...it means nothing.

In marriage, we are to work together with one heart and purpose, just as the church is to work together with one heart and purpose.  That means submitting, even when I believe I have the market on the right answer...even just this once!  It means making myself nothing.  No, that's not even politically correct...but it's what Jesus did.  Does He not live inside me?  He didn't demand and cling to His rights. Can He, living in me, demand and cling to His rights now?  

Or does He take the humble position of a slave and appear through me?