In the second part of Kevin's sermons about Colossians 3:18-19, he spoke to husbands and wives to flesh out what it means for wives to submit and husbands to love.
To husbands, he taught that knowing the Gospel is key to fulfilling your role to lovingly lead. Husbands are called to love their wives just as Christ loves us: unconditionally (no matter how helpful or respectful she is being), sacrificially (putting her needs before your own), and redemptively (leading her in her struggles to Christ, encouraging her with the Word, praying for her, and leading the family spiritually). Hasbands also lead lovingly by generally taking the initiative when his wife or family has a need, whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual. It also means taking responsibility for the ramifications when a tough decision needs to be made.
To wives, Kevin pointed out that the call to submit can be lived out by showing respect for our husbands. This is frequently displayed in our communication with him - by our tone and words, how we speak to and about our husbands, by learning to understand him, and in demonstrating affection for him. And although in a healthy marriage decisions are primarily made together, it may sometimes mean that a wife needs to allow her husband to make the final call in a difficult decision and support his leadership. Just as the husband is called to love no matter how well his wife is performing her role, the wife is called to show respect to her husband even if he is not leading perfectly (and we all know he can't! And neither can we!).
If you're looking for a great book on this topic, we recommend Love That Lasts, by Gary and Betsy Ricucci.
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