“What is 3R Thursday?”

3R Thursday is a short devotional that contains Ramblings, Ruminations, and Reflections published most Thursdays to equip Christians with practical theology and Biblical philosophy.

Previous devotionals can be read here.

Now up, forward, and through 🤝 

3R THURSDAY: Vertical Alignment

Chiropractors are the worst.

You mention you have a cold and what do they say?

“Your spine is misaligned.”

You mention you had a bad day at work and what do they say?

“Your spine needs to be adjusted.”

You mention that your dog ran away.

“His spine must have been out of alignment.”

or worst:

“Take more essential oils.”

In all seriousness, some problems can be helped through an “adjustment”—but not all problems. Most problems are outside the realm of chiropractic care.

“Chiro-” means spine, and your spine is very important.

It holds everything up.

It protects your spinal cord.

Without it, skeletons wouldn’t look nearly as menacing chasing Scooby Doo.

And we definitely want to be known as having a “backbone.”

Some questions to consider:

What is the spiritual backbone of your life?

What is it that’s holding you up day after day?

Is it possible to be spiritually misaligned or maladjusted?

In Ephesians 5, Paul provides the proper alignment for Christian households:

Husband submits to Christ.

Wife submits to Husband.

Children obey Parents.

Or seen from another perspective:

Christ loves Husband, Wife, Children.

Husband loves Wife, Children.

Wife loves Husband, Children.

(Children—with time—love Christ, Father, Mother).

This is Vertical Alignment.

Just as Christ is the head of the church, so too, is the Husband the head of the Wife. Ephesians 5:23-24.

And just as Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her, so too, should the Husband love the Wife and give himself up for her, loving her as his own body. Ephesians 5:25-28.

And just as the church obeys Christ, so too, should children obey the Parents. Ephesians 6:1.

So now be a chiropractor in your home.

Do you see an issue?

Is there a noticeable symptom?

A foul stench in your home?

A problem that you’ve neglected?

Are the children running amok?

Perhaps you’re out of alignment.

More questions to consider:

Husband, do you think that your wife is bucking at your leadership?

Look in the mirror: Are you bucking at God’s commands?

Wife, do you feel like your Husband is not following God?

Look in the mirror: Are you using your actions to point him back to God’s Word? 1 Peter 3:1-2

Lord willing, we can “realign” our lives under proper submission to Christ.

If problems are noticeable, then check where you are in that Vertical Alignment.

When the family is properly aligned under Christ, then the evidence is evident:

The Husband eagerly loves his Wife.

The Wife joyfully follows her Husband.

The Children listen and obey.

This is God’s design for a fruitful family.

Be Vertically Aligned.

Hope you have a blessed week.

See you next Thursday,
CFW

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