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Key Bible Verse: And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21). Bonus Reading:Ephesians 5:22–33

The previous season of Star Trek had ended with an evil Borg ship taking aim at Earth. The starship Enterprise had one last shot to stop it before it leveled our planet. The last scene of the final episode showed the Enterprise captain commanding, "Fire!"

Brenda and I had waited months to find out what happened. Now, for the season opener, Brenda and I settled into our family-room couch while the old episode was recapped. The tension mounted as the final half-hour loomed. Grabbing snacks after a run to the bathroom, we both anticipated the thrilling climax.

Three minutes later, Brenda smelled something nasty. She turned to find our preschooler, Michael, grinning as his training pants leaked fresh ca-ca down his leg and onto the carpet. Brenda groaned, and I turned to second her emotion. One of us had to take Michael upstairs for ten minutes to hose him off. And one of us had to clean the carpet. But at least the lucky carpet cleaner could still watch the show at the same time.

So who would escort Michael for his bath?

I simply swept him up without a word of discussion. That's what servants do.

—Fred Stoeker in Every Woman's Desire

My Response: Do I do "what servants do" without being asked?

Thought to Apply: People with successful loving unions let the other person be a whole person, rather than forcing him or her to be only half of a whole.

—Ari Kiev

Adapted from: Every Woman's Desire (Waterbrook, 2001) by permission.

Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Father, help me to please You by moving beyond preoccupation with my own needs to meeting those of my wife.

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