For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
— Ephesians 5:23–33 ESV

There are times when I feel like I am preaching a sermon to myself. It’s almost like I’m preaching a sermon into a mirror because the primary word from the Spirit isn’t from me, it’s actually for me. Sunday was one of those moments.

You see, the enemy constantly tempts men like me to be passive rather than intentionally engaging the battle to which God has called us. There is a unique responsibility and accountability that is given to men. A call to create environments where others flourish. We have a God-given purpose to honor, protect, serve, and provide. It’s not that women can’t do these things (they actually can do them quite well), but men cannot abdicate this responsibility. “Headship” is not about rights and benefits, but about responsibility and calling. It’s a stewardship that every man is called to live out.

So yes, we live in the shadow of Genesis 3, but we have been called to fight the battle to restore it to a Genesis 1 and 2 world. You can capitulate, lower the standard, and simply fade into the current of today’s culture or you can begin loving and leading others like Christ loves and leads the Church. No, it won’t be easy because the matrix is strong. However, don’t lose heart. We can prevail because our God is even stronger.