When a man decides to go down on one knee and ask a woman to be his wife, it means he’s seen something within her that has touched his heart profoundly. He’s determined that his search is over, because he’s discovered in her what could not be found in others. This is a choice that he’s made in every way; mentally, emotionally, physically, and most importantly spiritually. It’s a choice that signals heaven above, and everything beneath it, that he intends to spiritually join so tightly with a woman that the two become one. This is what many single women are hoping and praying will soon happen to them.
Going down on one knee is a significant gesture. We see this from the Word of God. Regarding the judgment seat of Christ, Romans 14:11(NLT) tells us, “As surely as I live,’ says the LORD, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’” Philippians 2:9-11(NLT) says, “9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Every knee will bow to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is truth! It will happen, of this we can be sure.
From this truth, we have an inkling of what is necessary to demonstrate extreme reverence, honor, and respect. Anything glorious deserves glory. Anything respectful deserves respect. To bow before Jesus Christ is not only an incredible privilege, it is also acknowledgement of our understanding of who he is. In His Word, God teaches us that actions convey what is in our hearts, and when those actions match the truth of God’s love and majesty, the jewels of commitment and unity are revealed.
Ephesians 5:25(KJV) is God’s requirement to husbands. It says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” This verse is a ‘love’ barometer for every woman. It gives us the exact point of reference needed to measure our own expectations as well as a man’s capacity to love. If the Lord has commanded a man to love his wife in the same way that Christ loves the church, then the man must be capable of doing so. It would be a huge affront and infraction to believe that a man lacks the capacity to love this way, for God has mandated that he must, and therefore can.
If for one second, your beliefs run counter to this, you are hurting yourself. Our wrong beliefs are a buffer between us as the blessings we seek. Wrong believing is doubt, and doubt does not come from the Kingdom of God, but from the kingdom of satan. There should be no place for doubt in the heart of a believing Daughter of Zion, because doubt repels love and doesn’t attract it.
1 John 3:18 (NLT) teaches us, “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us sow the truth by our actions.” It’s been said time and time again that getting married and saying “I Do” is the easy part; it’s staying together that snags people up. Sometimes people marry before they’ve given themselves time to find out if it’s a divine presentation. Their chief motivation is physical rather than spiritual. To sow is to invest, and when we invest our hearts in ground that isn’t true, we’re not acting in love, but perhaps lust. A better way is get tight with God so that we’re confident our motives are pure and hold to the standard of His love.
God gives us an advance level schooling on the subject of love in 1Corinthians 13(NLT). Verses 4-5 says, “4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.” This is kinda the opposite of what society teaches. We’re deluged with messages that tell us not to wait when it comes to love, but to want everything on the double. The world tells us it’s okay to be jealous and proud, and that we ought to be judging someone by the size of their wallet or bank account, and how successful or powerful they appear to be.
When a man bows on one knee to ask for his queen’s hand in marriage, it symbolizes his willingness to submit all that he has in service, love, and support of her. He’s willing to decrease so that they can increase together as they can stand before God in Christ. It’s an awesome aspect of God’s plan of unity for the body of Christ. As women of God, we should never try to force a man to honor us in this way. The grace we exhibit will compel him to do so.
You cannot give out of a well with no water. God has called us to be His Holy Daughters, to be women of great love, compassion, and care. The light of our hope in the promises of God should never grow dim, and we should be confident that Heavenly Father never disappoints, but loves us unconditionally. We should know that His greatest delight is to see His daughters happy and blessed. Let this be your confident anchor, because when it is, you will love from a well filled with commitment to Christ, and your prince will bow to honor it on bended knee. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Down on One Knee”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.