Colossians 3:17-4:1

-

Colossians 3:18-4:1

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

4 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. [1]



Devotion

                The society to which Paul addressed his “table of household duties” was very different from ours; but the duty to make one’s individual life a witness for Christ, which he impresses on wives, husbands, children, fathers, slaves, masters, has lost none of its truth in the changed condition of modern times. The practical counsels that follow are all to be read in light of the joyous, loving, thankful, Christian life Paul has already described. See previous blog post for details.

            Paul begins his description of the Christian household with wives. He encourages them to submit voluntarily to their husbands. Husbands he encourages to love their wives and not to be harsh with them. This is the basis for a loving Christian home. Where there can be a safe and loving environment. Free from unnecessary discord and selfishness.

            Next, Paul addresses the children. Telling them to obey their parents for in doing so they please the Lord. He urges fathers not to be overly harsh with their children so the children will not be discouraged.

            Slaves are addressed next so one might assume that this teaching has no practical application in this day and age. Besides the fact that there are now more people living in slavery around the world than there has ever been before. The teachings can be applied to employee/employer relations as well. Workers are to do what their employers ask them to not just when the boss is looking but when he is away as well. Knowing that the Lord will approve of their work even if the earthly boss doesn’t seem to notice. Masters are required to treat their employees fairly and justly knowing that they to serve a Master in heaven.

Prayer:

            Lord, make us receptive to your words to us. Even if they don’t seem applicable to our life situation. Help us to all live in quiet submission to your heavenly rule. Keep us from pride and boasting and help us to live by the Holy Spirit in the world. In the name of Jesus we ask it. Amen




[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 3:18–4:1.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapter seven as an aid to interpreting the events that occurred last Thursday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. On that da
Read more

Father Forgive Them

-
  Scripture: Luke 23:33-34 (ESV) 33  And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Devotion:             The situation Jesus finds himself in here in today’s scripture is difficult for us to even imagine. A sham trial, no credible accusations of any kind, let alone any deserving of death, and yet here he is. A brilliant Rabbi, a teacher of the people who never led even one person astray from God’s will. This Holy One of God soon to be food for vultures.             This man who had done nothing wrong had no one in all the crowds who would speak up in his defense lest they be next to face the cross. An innocent man hung between two scoundrels. No voice from heaven declaring that this was the man that they were killing was actually the true Son of God. (See Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, John 12:28) No the heaven
Read more

Transgenderism letter

-
  This is a copy of my letter to my senators, representative, and President Biden. January 15, 2024 Dear President Biden, Senators T. Duckworth, R. Durbin, and Representative D. LaHood             I am writing to you because I am concerned about the situation affecting our children and grandchildren, namely transitioning them from one gender to another. This nation must adjust course concerning these “interventions” because they are dangerous, irreversible, and life-changing. Our country should not be permitting these procedures on minor children under any circumstances. We must also make sure that adults who seek this care are given informed consent as to the risks versus benefits of sex reassignment treatments.             There are many drawbacks to gender-affirming care for minors. Besides the loss of any ability to give or receive sexual pleasure and sterility these treatments cause, there are social and psychological effects that we have no way of identifying because these
Read more