by Presiding Bishop Samuel Kramer - Originally published in Volume 50, Issue 1 - Summer Quarter, 2006
Ask most people which day is God’s Sabbath and they will answer, “Sunday is the Lord’s Day.” The truth of the matter is that there is rampant confusion and misinformation concerning God’s Sabbath. How did such confusion arise? One thing is certain–God did not author it The truth is that Satan has engineered a master plan to divert God’s people from the truths and blessings of the 7th Day Sabbath of the Lord. It’s time that we–as the children of God–unmask Satan’s plot to rob us of this special day.
The Word of God tells us that the seventh day (Saturday) is the Sabbath of the Lord. The majority of Christians will tell you that the first day of the week (Sunday) is God’s Sabbath. And now the Muslims tell us that the sixth day (Friday) is the Sabbath of the Lord. Who’s right? The answer should be obvious: God has ordained the seventh day (Saturday) as His Sabbath since the creation of the world. There are no scriptures or examples to show that the Sabbath has ever been changed by God either in the Old Testament or the New Testament.
IN THE BEGINNING
In order to find the origin of the 7th Day Sabbath lets start in the beginning. Genesis 2:1-3, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he rested from all his work which God created and made.”
These scriptures clearly state that at the time of creation, God set aside the 7th day as a day of rest–in other words He established the Sabbath–not man. Verse 3 also makes it clear that not only is the 7th day set apart from the rest of the week, God also blessed it and sanctified it. The word sanctify means to be set apart, consecrated, to be observed as holy.1 We can rightfully conclude that God is the founder and author of the 7th Day Sabbath.
The Sabbath is God’s idea and it started at Creation. Most Christians today will tell you that the idea of the Sabbath originated with the 10 Commandments. The truth is that God’s Sabbath was established approximately 2600 years before the 10 Commandments were given to Moses at Mount Sinai.
The first point that we need to establish about the 7th Day Sabbath is that it is about God–He founded it, He authored its observance, He set it apart, He blessed it, and finally–He rested on it! God consecrated the Sabbath which means that we should treat it with special care because it is a possession of God. God made Saturday special–why would we not want to be a part of that? God said that we needed to rest. Can the creature say to the Creator, “We don’t need rest–we know better than you”? The answer is no. God created us and He knows what we need.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Let’s examine the 10 Commandments found in Exodus 20:1-17.
#1 [3] “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
#2 [4] “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image...[5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them...”
#3 [7] “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain...”
#4 [8] “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
#5 [12] “Honor thy father and thy mother...”
#6 [13] “Thou shalt not kill.”
#7 [14] “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
#8 [15] “Thou shalt not steal.”
#9 [16] “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
#10 [17] “Thou shalt not covet...any thing that it thy neighbor’s.”
II Timothy 3:16,17 tells us that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” I quote this scripture because the truth of the matter is that the 10 Commandments either stand or fall intact–in other words, God still expects us not to steal, murder, worship other gods, and He still expects us to keep His Sabbath holy. We are not permitted to pick and choose. We cannot claim that 9 of the commandments are relevant and that God has changed His mind concerning the 4th command to remember His Sabbath.
WHAT DOES PROPHECY SAY ABOUT THE SABBATH?
Ezekiel 20:12-24 (New Living Translation), “And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I, the LORD, had set them apart to be holy, making them my special people. [13] But the people of Israel rebelled against me, and they refused my laws there in the wilderness. They wouldn’t obey my instructions even though obedience would have given them life. And they also violated my Sabbath days. So I threatened to pour out my furn on them, and I made plans to utterly consume them in the desert. [14] But again I held back in order to protect the honor of my name. That way the nations who saw me lead my people out of Egypt wouldn’t be able to claim I destroyed them because I couldn’t take care of them. [15] But I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful place on earth. [16] I told them this because they had rejected my laws, ignored my will for them and violated my Sabbath days. Their hearts were given to their idols. [17] Nevertheless, I pitied them and held back from destroying them in the wilderness.
[18] “Then I warned their children and told them not to follow in their parents’ footsteps, defiling themselves with their idols. [19] ‘I am the LORD your God,’ I told them. ‘Follow my laws, pay attention to my instructions,’ [20] and keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind you that I am the LORD your God.’
[21] “But their children, too, rebelled against me. They refused to keep my laws and follow my instructions, even though obeying them would have given them life. And they also violated my Sabbath days. So again I threatened to pour out my fury on them in the wilderness. [22] Nevertheless, I withdrew my judgment against them to protect the honor of my name among the nations who had seen my power in bringing them out of Egypt. [23] But I took a solemn oath against them while they were in the wilderness. I vowed I would scatter them among all the nations {24] because they did not obey my laws. They scorned my instructions by violating my Sabbath days and longing for the idols of their ancestors.”
THE SABBATH–A SIGN OF GOD’S ETERNAL COVENANT
Verse 12 tells us that the Sabbath is a sign between God and His chosen people. The Hebrew word oth–which is translated as sign–is the same word that is translated as token in Genesis 9:13 when God said, “I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.” In other words, just as God established an eternal covenant with the sign of a rainbow [not to destroy the earth by water], He uses the Sabbath as a sign of an eternal covenant with His chosen people.
God wants us to know that He is God. You may say that everyone knows that God is God–this is not true. Our society is constantly telling us that we can manufacture any version of a god that we want and goes as far as pressuring us to accept and recognize these false gods as equal to Yahweh God. God wants His chosen people to recognize His sovereignty and to willingly obey Him simply because His is God. and that we are His people who are willing to obey Him as God. God has used the sign of the Sabbath as a way to separate us from other people to be His holy people thereby making us His special people.
WHO CHANGED THE SABBATH?
Muslims say the sixth day (Friday) is the Sabbath. Most Christians say the first day (Sunday) is the Sabbath. What happened to generate such confusion? The truth is that the concept of Sunday being the Sabbath of God was originated by the Roman Catholic Church in the early 3rd and 4th Centuries. Some Christians today want to promote the doctrine that the Early Apostles adopted corporate worship on Sunday based on their misinterpretation of a few scriptures found in the New Testament. It’s amazing to me that they will willingly accept a vague conclusion about the Apostles adopting Sunday worship and completely ignore one of the 10 Commandments and a multitude of scriptures that support adherence to the 7th Day Sabbath.
In verses 16 and 24 God tells Israel that not only did they not obey Him, but that they were also following after the idols of their fathers. While we may immediately dismiss that charge as irrelevant for our day, we may need to reconsider what God is saying. Are we guilty of following after the idols of our fathers? Are any of the traditions we adhere to today in Christianity based on pagan gods or pagan festivals? Let’s examine how we arrived at the observance of Sunday as God’s Sabbath.
History tells us that the Roman Catholic Church established the decree concerning corporate worship on Sunday based on the leadership of the Roman Emperor Constantine. In the 4th Century Constantine successfully merged the Roman Empire with the Early Church which resulted in the Gospel being blended with a variety of pagan festivals and rituals. One of the prominent rituals of Constantine’s era was the worship of the sun as a pagan god. In an effort to unite his kingdom/church, Constantine decreed that Sunday (named after the pagan god worshiped on that day) was the new “Lord’s Day”, thus creating the confusion about which day is God’s true Sabbath.
The idea that the Christian Church today can take the laws and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church [the observance of Sunday as God’s Sabbath] over the command of Yahweh God [to observe His 7th Day Sabbath], is equal to the Israelites of old following after the idols of their fathers. We need to recognize that the Sabbath was God’s plan and that it is still very important to Him. We, as God’s chosen people, should joyfully obey His commands and forsake any connection with things of pagan influence or origin–including observing Sunday as opposed to Saturday as God’s Sabbath.
Isaiah 56:1-8, “Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. [2] Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold of it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. [3] Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. [4] For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; [5] Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
[6] “Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, everyone that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; [7] Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. [8] The LORD God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.”
God did not create us to be His robots. When He created us He gave us the ability to choose. We have the ability to choose to do the things that please God and bring forth His blessings in our life. In verse 2 of the above passage God says, “Blessed is the man that doeth this...” Doeth what? Verse 1, “Keep ye judgment, and do justice...” We are blessed if we keep the judgments of God. He goes on to say in verse 6 that we will be blessed if we keep from polluting His Sabbath.
The Hebrew word that is translated as polluting is châlal which means to break, wound, profane or dissolve. Notice the word dissolve. Has Satan desired to dissolve God’s Sabbath within the kingdom of God today?
Let’s examine what he’s already managed to do:
1. He has successfully changed the accepted day of worship from the 7th day to the first day (Sunday) of the week.
2. He has convinced the majority of Christians that the Early Apostles–led by the Apostle Paul–abandoned the practice of worshiping on the 7th day in favor of honoring the day of the Lord’s resurrection on Sunday.
3. He’s persuaded most believers that any desire to recognize Saturday as God’s Sabbath is simply archaic and/or is an unnecessary and unhealthy attempt to adhere to the Law found in the Old Testament.
4. He’s convinced the majority of Christians that observing Saturday as the Sabbath is a ball-and-chain burden on their so-called religious freedom” that they enjoy in today’s dispensation of grace.
I think it is clear that Satan’s goal is to dissolve any and all recognition or observance of the 7th day as God’s holy Sabbath.
DOES GOD EXPECT GENTILES TO OBSERVE HIS SABBATH?
People will tell you today that the Old Testament was written to the Jewish people and that there were no provisions made for the Gentile people. Isaiah 56:1-8 dispels that notion. God says in verse 3 that the stranger’s sons (Gentiles) would join themselves to the Lord. Verses 4 and 5 say that if the Gentiles keep God’s Sabbaths and choose the things that please Him, they will have a place better than sons and daughters and that they would not be cut off.
It’s all about choice. Observing the Sabbath will not save you. Not observing the Sabbath will not condemn you. You will not be more righteous if you observe the 7th day Sabbath–only Jesus can make you righteous. The fact is that God is looking for a people who will serve Him simply because they love Him. How does God view our love? First of all, He’s knows our heart and motive. God is not impressed if we say, “I love You, God” 90 times in a row. God views our obedience to His commands as a proper expression of our love to Him. Consider John 14:21a, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me...” In other words, God can tell how much we love Him by how much we obey His commands.
But I believe our love for Him can go one step further. Our love for God must include complete obedience–this requirement is established in Holy Scripture; however, I believe His Bride will simply love Him for who He is. She will want to do the things that please Him just like we as humans want to please the ones we love. At some point we must be driven by our love to please Jesus above and beyond our desire to obey His commands. If the Sabbath pleases God, then we as His Bride wholeheartedly accept the Sabbath with joy and excitement. If God chose the 7th day as His Sabbath then we as The Church of God will worship on His special day because we want to please Him as an expression of our heartfelt love and admiration.
Isaiah 58:11-14, “And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. [12] And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.[13] If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: [14] Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritance of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”
God promises a bevy of blessings upon a group of people that He simply identifies as those who will build the old waste places, raise up the foundations, repair the breach, and restore the paths to dwell in. In other words, the work of these people will be the restoration of all things. The Church of God believes that we have been called to be a part of these restoration people in the Last Days. I find it interesting that while God was speaking about the restoration of His people He also interjects what their attitude would be concerning His Sabbath. God’s restoration people will be a church that calls His Sabbath a delight. They will delight in doing the things that please God and they will not be focused on their own desires, pleasures, or traditions.
Leviticus 23:3 (NIV), “There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you may live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.” I find a very interesting statement in this scripture. Not only are we told that the Sabbath is a day of rest, it is also a day of sacred assembly. In other words, God expects us to come before Him on His Sabbath in corporate worship–a church service. This scripture makes it clear that God made the 7th day Sabbath (Saturday) as a day of rest as well as a day of coming together in a church service to worship Him.
I also find it interesting that God instructs us in this scripture to work on the other six days of the week which includes Sunday. Here’s were we have a choice today: Our society tells us that we should work Monday through Saturday and go to church and rest on Sunday. In fact many businesses in our world still close on Sunday based on the traditions of Roman Catholicism. God tells us that we should work Sunday through Friday and worship on Saturday. What should we do? There is not one scripture in the Old or New Testament that instructs us to go to church on Sunday the first day of the week yet the majority of believers honor the traditions of man above the commands of God.
Which do you think pleases God?
OLD TESTAMENT LAWS
When you start discussing the observance of Saturday as God’s Sabbath many people will try and tell you that God no longer requires that because it was written in the Old Testament and is no longer relevant. Some contend that Jesus did away with all Sabbath observances. Let’s examine what Jesus did when He walked on this earth.
Luke 4:16, “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stoop up for to read.” Here we find that when Jesus began His earthly ministry He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath–as His custom was. He was accustomed to doing what God had commanded–He gathered together in a sacred assembly on the Sabbath. This scripture makes it clear that Jesus did not change the basic observance of the Sabbath day.
Some people say that the Early Apostles changed the Sabbath day from Saturday to Sunday. Let’s see what scripture says about that.
1. Gentiles worshiping on the Sabbath – Acts 13:42-44, “And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. [43] Now the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. [44] And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.”
2. The Apostle Paul worshiping on the Sabbath – Acts 17:1-4, “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apolonia, they came to Thessolonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: [2] And Paul, as his manner was, went into them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, [3] Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach to you, is Christ. [4] And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.”
3. Paul ministers to Jews and Gentiles on the Sabbath – Acts 18:4, “And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.”
While some theologians would have us believe that the Early Church–led by the Apostle Paul–abandoned the 7th Day Sabbath for worshiping on the 1st Day of the week, the Scriptures simply do not support such a scenario. The truth is that it was the custom of the Early Church and the Apostles to worship at the synagogue on the Sabbath and they also taught the Gentiles to do the same.
CHOOSE YE THIS DAY...
Let’s take a moment and review what we have researched:
A. It was God that set apart the 7th Day (Saturday) as His special day of rest, and He did it at the time of Creation.
B. It was God that ordained His 7th Day Sabbath as a time of sacred assembly (Leviticus 23:3).
C. When Jesus walked the earth He went into the synagogue on the 7th Day as His custom was.
D. Jesus reformed the Sabbath Day observance just like He reformed the Passover observance.
E. The Early Church (including the Apostle Paul) worshiped on the 7th Day.
F. The Apostle Paul taught the Gentiles to worship on the 7th Day as his custom was.
The scriptures are clear that God ordained the 7th Day Sabbath and that He has never changed His commandment regarding it. As believers, we have a decision to make: will we honor the traditions of our Christian forefathers which were influenced by the pagan influence of the Roman Empire, or will we honor the commandments of Yahweh God, our Heavenly Father? For me, the answer is simple–we will obey Yahweh God because we honor His commandments and because we love Him and want to please Him.
The words of Jesus ring in my mind: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:1). It is with pleasure that The Church of God Jerusalem Acres stands for and holds to the truth that God’s Sabbath is on the 7th Day of the week (Friday Evening/Saturday Day) and that it is a day of sacred assembly.
“But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (I Corinthians 11:3). God, in His wisdom, designed marriage to have the man as the head. Author Elisabeth Elliot, “The Shaping of a Christian Family”, describes her father’s headship in her home as a child: “Head of the house did not mean that our father barked out orders, threw his weight around, and demanded submission from his wife. It simply meant that he was the final one responsible.” This is what is meant by I Corinthians 11:3. The wife is accountable to God for submitting to her husband’s leadership, and the husband is accountable to God for his leadership in the home. So our husbands answer to God for leading, while we answer to God for following. Hmm, ladies, which would you rather answer for?
THE TWO-HEADED MARRIAGE
I’ve heard it said that, “Well, the man might be the head, but the woman is the neck that turns the head!” In other words, they are saying that the wife is really the one in charge. This is not in God’s plan. I’ve also heard, “Well, our marriage is a partnership. One is not the head of the other here!” Really? So you have a two-headed marriage? Something that is two-headed is considered abnormal and grotesque. A marriage that God has designed is a thing of beauty, orderly, natural, and functional–with only one head. Probably the most common thing I’ve heard is women jokingly saying that their husband only thinks he’s the head of the household because they allow him to believe that but they are really in charge. How sad for them (the wives) is this is true. They are missing out on the blessing of being a submissive wife, and are contributing to the breakdown of the family as a whole, as this world continues to mix up the roles of husband and wife.
The funny thing about submission is that it cannot be forced on you–oh, it can in extreme circumstances–but let’s face it, if you are submitting in deed only, and under duress, and not in your heart, then you are really not submitting. So let me take this moment to admonish husbands–do not take this teaching as a reason to nag and remind your wife of how she has to submit to you. If you really want her submission, then work on submitting yourself to God, and having the heart of Jesus Christ for your wife. When you are in God’s will, then it will make it easier for her to be in God’s will.
As we discussed above, you will answer to God for your leadership skills, not for whether you were able to force your wife to follow. Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” Show me a man who treats his wife as Christ treats the church, and I will show you a wife who is happy to submit to him!
Having said that, wives, do not use your husband’s lack of perfection as an excuse, saying, “When he treats me like Christ would, then I’ll submit.” Listen to the words of the Apostle Peter, “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives” (I Peter 3:1). In other words, a wife’s submission can preach a powerful sermon without any words necessary!
GOD’S HOLY PATTERN
One thing I’ve learned about submission, through my own marriage, is that although it isn’t always easy, there are great blessings in store for you, because you are in God’s will. Hebrews 8:5b, “...make all things according to the pattern...” We always assume this simply means the pattern of government that God has for His church. But God’s government also applies to the family, and He has mapped out His pattern accordingly. When we build our marriages according to our own patterns–“Well, this is what works for us”–we take ourselves outside of the will and protection of God.
The one and only exception to submitting to your husband is if he is asking you to violate God’s Word. If your husband tries to lead you into something illegal or immoral, go to a trusted pastor or counselor for help. Okay, so now we know that although no one can force us to submit, it’s the only choice if we want to be in God’s will. But how do we go about bringing this submissive change into our personalities? Just knowing that you must doesn’t make it happen! Look to Ephesians 5:22 to get you started: “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord” Aha! Stop thinking of submitting to your husband as something that you do simply to please him–but do it unto God, to please your Lord and King. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” Now, apply that scripture to giving honor to your Lord by your submission to your husband. Doesn’t that feel good?
No?...It doesn’t feel good yet? Don’t worry, it will. Maybe the main reason wives have a hard time submitting is because of fear. This world teaches us to be in control and we are afraid of what just might happen if we give our husbands the power to do things his way, instead of our way. And how far does this submission have to go anyway? In everything, yes, everything. “Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:24).
Ouch! But, fear not, and have faith! Faith is the opposite of fear (Mark 4:40). Having faith in God will give us the strength to submit. The holy women of the Bible who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands. We also can be like them if we do good and are not afraid of any terror (I Peter 3:5,6). And what beautiful women we will be! “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).
DO IT AS UNTO THE LORD
Still, the how to bring about these changes in ourselves needs to be further spelled out. First, give yourself the best motive by taking to heart what Titus 2:4,5 says: “That they admonish the young women to love their husbands...that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” None of us want to blaspheme (to discredit or dishonor) the Word of God–remember, Jesus is the Word. That right there is motive enough for me!
Second, make the decision in your heart to dedicated yourself to submission as God's will dictates. Write it down in your Bible - Today (Date) I decided to follow God's will for my life by submitting to my husband. Write the reference Titus 2:4,5 beside it just to remind yourself why you are doing this.
Third, cultivate respect in your heart for your husband. God stated in Ephesians 5:33b, "Let the wife see that she respects her husband." Even at times when you don't feel respect, show it. In fact, show it when he is not around by never passing up an opportunity to bless your husband in public. Praise him, both to his face and behind his back. But do not, I repeat, do not talk about him disparagingly to anyone - no, not to your best friend, not even to your mother -or his mother. We'll talk about this more in a future column, but trust me on this because God has been showing me why this is so important. Have you ever been around a woman who doesn't respect her husband? One who complains about him, nags, picks, and disagrees with everything he says quite publicly? She corrects him, interrupts him, and struggles with him over every detail? ("No, no, no - your uncle moved five years ago, not seven!") Do you really want to mold yourself to be like her? Cultivate respect for him publicly and privately, and you won't become that bitter woman.
Fourth, create a positive atmosphere in your home by responding positively to him. This can be a hard one, but train yourself to do it. Let the fruit of the Sprit (Galatians 5:22,23) be your guide. If you are not willing to let him make decisions about the little things, do you really think you'll hand over the big things as well? Putting your own will aside is a good training exercise. Even Jesus had to set aside His will in the garden before His crucifixion. It may not be comfortable, we may have to step out of our comfort zones in order to make this work. This doesn't mean that you have to be without your own thoughts or opinions but there is a time and a place for them and in the end the headship is still your husband's.
I would implore you not to ignore or dismiss this teaching simply because it is uncomfortable for you. We all know that the only way to grow spiritually is to move away from our comfort zones when the Word of God requires it. Remember, your husband is part of God's plan for your spiritual growth, your personal fulfillment, and your protection. Ever time you chose to honor, submit and bend to your husband’s will, you are doing it until the Lord and your character is enriched.