AN OPEN DOOR FOR OUR MESSAGE
`
Colossians 4:2-18 Lesson 7
Key Verse: 4:3 Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 9/2/09
"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains."
For Paul and for us, too, one of the most important tasks of our Christian lives is that of proclaiming the gospel to people mired in a world full of sin and darkness. To do this we must devote ourselves to prayer. We must be alert to see God's answers and be thankful as we proclaim the gospel message clearly. Then we can go through these open doors and make the most of the opportunities God has given. In this lesson, Paul emphasizes a life of prayer and thanksgiving. Paul mentions many names stressing the importance of building up co-working relationships with other believers. Let us learn from this passage and go through the open doors that God is opening for us in DeKalb and on the campus of NIU.
Part l: Prayer And Wisdom (2-6)
Paul encourages the new believers in matters of the heart. Verse 2 reads, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." First, these new believers needed to devote themselves to prayer. Devote means to “set apart for a special purpose...to dedicate.” (The new Mirriam Webster dictionary c. 1974) Prayer is fundamental to our spiritual life, like breathing is to our physical life. Prayer requires a certain discipline, making time pray. It requires heart. We need to put our hearts into prayer and not just go through the motions. Prayer is privilege. We should thank God that we could stand before the throne of God to pray. Prayer is conversation with God where we meet with God personally. We need to have frequent conversations with God. In regards to prayer, you need to find out what works for you. I pray when I walk the dog. I pray when I drive to work. I pray in my bedroom. When you find the place of prayer that is right for you then prayer will come more naturally.
Second, we must be watchful. Satan tries to attack us in every way. Satan is always prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). We must be watchful or we will be pounced on and devoured. If you are overconfident in yourself and in your own strength then you will surely fall. (1 Cor 10:12) A person who is watchful can not be overcome by Satan nor the power of sin.
Third, thankfulness is an important factor in prayer. Verse 2b reads, “… being watchful and thankful.” Paul exhorts these Christians to be thankful in all circumstances. 1 Thess 5:17-19 reads,“pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” Some may say,“Why be thankful? Does God want me to wear a plastic smile?” Look at it this way…It seems that everything wants to impede our prayer life. It is because the devil knows that pray is the most potent weapon in the spiritual battle. When we are full of complaints then we can not pray. But when we are full of thanksgiving to God then prayer can flow out from our hearts. We think that prayer is only to pray about problems. But prayer is also a chance to praise God and renew God’s grace, personally, so that we can be thankful. During prayer, try to remember God’s grace and everything will look different and prayer will flow naturally.
Paul had many important prayer requests. Look at verses 3-4, "And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should." His prayer was that God may open a door opportunity for the Gospel to be proclaimed clearly. It has been said that 50% of Roman prisoners died while in custody, but it is interesting to note that Paul did not pray to be released, but for the door for effectual gospel work to be open. He did not fall into the trap of focusing exclusively on his own situation. He was concerned that the Gospel go everywhere.
When we pray and are watchful we can begin to see open doors. The door for effective Gospel work was closed in Winnipeg. But our missionaries did not give up. They prayed and asked God to reveal an open door in order to raise disciples among Canadian students. They prayed and God revealed to them that planting churches in the Toronto and Montreal were open doors. They decided to enter through that door. The missionaries and Canadian shepherds moved 2,000 miles away. That was in 1989. Since then God has been blessing their ministries and so many disciples are being raised up among students. This year they held a Canadian Summer Bible Conference where about 350 people attended. They started their own Canadian UBF staff Conferences. There is great work of God sprouting in Western Canada. Praise the Lord! We need to pray for God to open our eyes so that we can see open doors for effective Gospel ministry here at NIU and enter in through those doors. Pray…look for an open door…and go through it by faith!
Let’s think a little more about Paul not praying to be released. Paul accepted his prison as his cross and as God’s will. He knew that his chains would advance the gospel. He was like Jesus who prayed not for the cup of suffering to be taken from him, but for strength to drink that cup to the end. (Lk 22:42) There are times when persecution is a better environment for advancing the gospel than security and comfort is. It is said that there are over 90 million house churches in China. They have grown under persecution. North Korea is growing a powerful underground church, even in the midst of extreme oppression. Actually there is more work of God in persecution than in security, peace, and comfort.
Paul wanted to proclaim the Gospel message clearly. Proclaim means to reveal. Paul knew that making people believe was God’s business, but one thing he could do is make the gospel clear and pray that people may understand it. The mystery that needs to be proclaimed clearly is that, in Jesus, God has opened the way for all people to receive salvation and eternal life. (Ephesians 3:6). It was a mystery because it was hidden. It must be revealed clearly. Even though we have the Bible and the gospel has been preached for over 2,000 years, we need to repeat it clearly to the new generation of our young people.
Nowadays post modern young people assume that the gospel has nothing to say, that there is no wisdom in the gospel, that there is no absolute truth to be discovered. They think that there are no answers to all their “big” questions of life. They are so wrong! There is wealth of wisdom and knowledge in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Like Paul, we need to present the gospel clearly in a way that young people will understand. (1Cor 14:7-9) There are so many things that makes the gospel blurry. Our own desires, our own fixed ideas, our sins and our life styles make the gospel unclear to others. Being stuck in our own generational or cultural quarks, arguing about peripheral issues, all make the gospel unclear. It has been said that it is difficult to see Jesus because of the Christians. We need to get out of the way so others may see Christ.
We try to make the message clear in three ways, through writing, speaking and living. In UBF we try not to just speak off the cuff. We need to train ourselves to be clear. 1 Peter 13:15, “15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (also 2 Tim 2:5) Paul prayed for clarity. He trained himself to be clear. Let us discipline ourselves spiritually. Take the things out of your life that blind others to the gospel of Jesus and speak the God’s message clearly.
In the Roman world, each city was like a new culture. Paul needed to make the Gospel clear for each one of them. That means he needed to flexible, dynamic and elastic. He needed to study each culture and be culturally sensitive to each city that that he entered. We too need to be culturally sensitive to the people we are trying to reveal the gospel clearly to. Though we all live in America there are so many subcultures in this vast melting pot. For me, I have to be sensitive to the NIU campus culture, the hospital culture and the suburban, middle class family culture. Each subculture has its own unique challenges. But I must adapt to them if I am going to make the gospel clear.
Paul was always alert, looking for every opportunity to reveal Jesus. Look at verses 5-6, "5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." We can help others to understand and accept the gospel by being wise in our actions and in our conversation, especially around non believers. Part of being wise is being careful and graceful in our conversation. Wisdom also has to do with making relationships with other people. Not many are wise, but we can all get wisdom. Wisdom comes from the fear of God, for “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10) Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor. Obtain wisdom from Jesus and become a wonderful counselor like Jesus! Live sincere life of faith. Have graceful speech. Speak the truth. Then go to an unbelieving world with the clear message of salvation. They will be glad you did.
Part ll: Messengers and Fellow Workers (7-18)
In verses 7-9 Paul reveals some of his fellow gospel workers to the church, "Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here." These people have weird names. Who are they? Tychicus and Onesimus delivered Paul's letters. Tychicus had been Paul's representative on several occasions (Eph 6:21). Concerning Onesimus, Paul says in Philemon 14-16, “Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.” Onesimus escaped to Rome. There he heard the gospel, repented of his sins and met Jesus, and now was returning to Philemon in Colossae as a dear brother in the Lord (Phm 16). He co-worked with Paul while he was prison. Onesimus’ changed life bore witness to the transforming power of the gospel.
There were more co-workers with Paul. Look at verses 10-11, “My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.” These people were an encouragement because they were Jewish converts actually co-working closely with him. Paul was persecuted by his own countrymen. Some tried to kill him. But these people came along side Paul and worked with him, even at the cost of being rejected by their own people. They had faith. They were comforting. Aristarchus had been with Paul in some very trying times (Ac 19:29; 20:4; 27:2), and now he was with him in prison. Mark, who had once abandoned Paul in the mission field, was helped by Barnabas and Peter, later came back and grown into a useful servant of God (Ac 15:36-39). Mark had changed. Paul now said many graceful things about him.
There were more faithful, Gentile co-workers. Look at verses 12-14, “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.” Epaphras, was a preacher who went to his people as a servant of the Lord and was later arrested. (Phl 1:23) He was a fellow prisoner with Paul. He was a “hidden” prayer servant. Every church needs such, “behind the scenes” people for the church to grow strong. Luke the historian and evangelist was Paul's personal physician. He accompanied Paul on his journeys and recorded early church history. Demas was dear friend and co-worked, but later abandoned Paul (2 Tim 4:10). I’m sure Paul was thankful for the time spent with Demas. Nympha offered her home to be used as a house church, forfeiting much privacy and adopting many cleaning and serving responsibilities. Paul recognized her offering. Verse 17 refers to Archippus. He was a fellow “Christian soldier” with Paul. His message to Archippus is to complete the work he had received in the Lord.
Paul had such a beautiful relationship with his coworkers. Paul described them as faithful and dear brothers, fellow workers. Paul prayed for key leaders to be raised up. He honored them. He mentioned them by name. He was building up relationships Where can we find such a beautiful group of people? Only in Christ as we serve Jesus together! Jesus once prayed for all believers in 17:23, “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Such unity is a sign that the work of God was going on among his people and is the way that non-believers will know that Jesus is the Christ. I personally tasted such unity in Winnipeg UBF, Triton UBF and now here at NIU UBF. May we continue to build up such a vessel of love and cop-working among us so that Jesus may be revealed.
Some added points…Paul wanted his coworkers to be world mission minded. Look at verse 16, “After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.” Laodicea was a nearby city and more populated. A church had been planted there. The Loadicians were “luke warm” in their faith. (Rev 3:14-22) In mentioning Laodicea, Paul was encouraging Colossians to reach out to the Laodiceans and encourage them spiritually.
Verse 18 reveals Paul’s final greetings, "I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you." Most people think that persecution would hinder people from coming to Jesus, but Paul’s chains were not a source of discouragement. On the contrary, they inspired people to give their lives to Jesus. Paul’s was continually working hard to expand the territory of the Kingdom of God, encouraging others to share in Christ’s sufferings and reminding people of the grace of God.
.
In this passage we learn that we must be prayerful, watchful and thankful. We need to look for open doors to do the work of God and go through them. We need to get ourselves out of the way so that Jesus and his gospel may be proclaimed clearly to those whom we are called to reveal it. Finally, let us honor our fellow workers and build each one up spiritually so that we can be a team who can glorify Christ. God bless you.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Joel Closing Message
Prophesy, Dream Dreams And See Visions For The Glory Of God.
Joel 2:28, "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Closing message Joel Bible School by Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 6/1/08
I thank God for blessing our Spring Joel Bible School. Through the Bible School God we all could receive hope and vision for our Summer ministry. We could also find the true way of restoration in God. God sent 27 people to this Bible School, 11 through our NIU ministry and 16 from our Triton UBF ministry. We all could participate in one way or another. It was precious Koininia in which we spurred each other on to draw near to Jesus. Let us think briefly about this obscure, but powerful book, holding onto one word of God in our hearts.
A recurring theme in this book is the judgment of God manifest in the form of locust plague. God provided a beautiful vineyard for the people of Judah. They could enjoy the fruit of this vineyard, from generation to generation, if they only decided to live for the glory of God. But they did not. Rather than glorify God with their lives, they become complacent and fell into many sins. God tried to turn them around but to no avail. Finally he sent the plague of locusts calling his people to repentance. Look at verse 1:13. "Put on sackcloth, O priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God."
We discovered the meaning of subjecting Judah to such harsh treatment in verse 19a, which reads, "To you, O LORD, I call,…" God was drawing his people to himself. Before the plague of locusts they were crying out to each other, drunken accolades like, "You’re my best buddy forever" or curses too wicked to mention here. But after God's divine discipline they were crying out in prayer to God for redemption and salvation. All of our hardships and trials are opportunities to draw near to God and cry out to him.
True restoration begins with repentance. Look at verses 2:12-14, " "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. 14 Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God. " "Even now" means that whatever our spiritual condition may be, no matter how far we have drifted away from Jesus, God is ready to extend his hand of mercy to those who take hold of it with humble, repentant hearts. Then God will work to restore their fortunes to make them fruitful people. Look at verses 2:23-25, "Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. [e] He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. 24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 25 "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—…" God is eager to restore the lives of those who rend their hearts. To all those who are experiencing hard trials repent of your sins and cry out to Jesus. "Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing—…" (2:14a)
God is eager to, not only restore our fortunes, but also our spiritual lives through his word and Spirit. Look at verses 28-29, "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." So many of our young people are living in despair, with no hope and no vision for themselves and definitely not for their nation. So many have nothing important to say to their fellow Americans. But God promises his people that when they repent of their sins and cry out God he will restore their inner spiritual lives. Our young people will be able to speak the word of God to their generation, like all of you through this Joel Bible school. Many have prayer topics to give the word of God to their peers through 1:1 Bible study. Our old men will dream dreams of the Kingdom of God and dreams of the glorious work of God that will happen through the up and coming disciples of Jesus. I have dreams of the work of God, exploding, when all of you grow to be able to teach the Bible and raise disciples. This usually takes 25 years of ministry. Young men will see visions, like Tim's vision for a student group on campus and his vision for a NIU UBF website to post ministry photos. And Augustine and Sarah's vision for the CRMS Bible club or the Jennifer's vision to be a blessing to the Christian fellowship at the High School. Many in our ministry had vision for 3,000 members at Purdue '08 with 1,000 foreign delegates. God has fulfilled this vision and we are all excited. May God fill all of you with his hope, vision and word this summer.
Lastly, we were all comforted by the fact that God is our refuge. Look at 3:16b, "… But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. " There is a popular song, "It's All Because Of Jesus I'm Alive." This is so true. It is all because of our refuge and stronghold Jesus that we are alive. The trials of life do not have to crush us. Our sins do not need to harass us like a plague of locusts. We don't have live in desolation. We don't have to taste eternal condemnation due us for our many sins. No. There is a very true and real hope for those who repent and cry out to Jesus. God himself will be our refuge and our stronghold. When we are found, in Jesus, through repentance and faith, we enter into our refuge. We find shelter and peace. It is a healing place, a restoring place and place of strength. It is a place where we can grow in the love of Jesus and in the image of God. It is a place where we can serve God's holy purpose in our lives and this place is available for anyone for 2: 32a reads, " And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved;…"
Through our study of Joel, let us cease and desist from complaining about our life's troubles and instead let us rend our hearts, that is repent, and cry out to Jesus. Then he will restore our lives, especially our spiritual lives and fill our hearts with his dreams and visions. With his Spirit dwelling in our hearts, we can give his word to the students of NIU and Kishwaukee College. Let us find ourselves in our refuge, Jesus Christ and live as areas of refuge for students until they can learn to cry out to Jesus. May God grant each of us clear direction for our summer ministry through the words of God.
Joel 2:28, "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Closing message Joel Bible School by Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 6/1/08
I thank God for blessing our Spring Joel Bible School. Through the Bible School God we all could receive hope and vision for our Summer ministry. We could also find the true way of restoration in God. God sent 27 people to this Bible School, 11 through our NIU ministry and 16 from our Triton UBF ministry. We all could participate in one way or another. It was precious Koininia in which we spurred each other on to draw near to Jesus. Let us think briefly about this obscure, but powerful book, holding onto one word of God in our hearts.
A recurring theme in this book is the judgment of God manifest in the form of locust plague. God provided a beautiful vineyard for the people of Judah. They could enjoy the fruit of this vineyard, from generation to generation, if they only decided to live for the glory of God. But they did not. Rather than glorify God with their lives, they become complacent and fell into many sins. God tried to turn them around but to no avail. Finally he sent the plague of locusts calling his people to repentance. Look at verse 1:13. "Put on sackcloth, O priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God."
We discovered the meaning of subjecting Judah to such harsh treatment in verse 19a, which reads, "To you, O LORD, I call,…" God was drawing his people to himself. Before the plague of locusts they were crying out to each other, drunken accolades like, "You’re my best buddy forever" or curses too wicked to mention here. But after God's divine discipline they were crying out in prayer to God for redemption and salvation. All of our hardships and trials are opportunities to draw near to God and cry out to him.
True restoration begins with repentance. Look at verses 2:12-14, " "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. 14 Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God. " "Even now" means that whatever our spiritual condition may be, no matter how far we have drifted away from Jesus, God is ready to extend his hand of mercy to those who take hold of it with humble, repentant hearts. Then God will work to restore their fortunes to make them fruitful people. Look at verses 2:23-25, "Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. [e] He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. 24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 25 "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—…" God is eager to restore the lives of those who rend their hearts. To all those who are experiencing hard trials repent of your sins and cry out to Jesus. "Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing—…" (2:14a)
God is eager to, not only restore our fortunes, but also our spiritual lives through his word and Spirit. Look at verses 28-29, "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." So many of our young people are living in despair, with no hope and no vision for themselves and definitely not for their nation. So many have nothing important to say to their fellow Americans. But God promises his people that when they repent of their sins and cry out God he will restore their inner spiritual lives. Our young people will be able to speak the word of God to their generation, like all of you through this Joel Bible school. Many have prayer topics to give the word of God to their peers through 1:1 Bible study. Our old men will dream dreams of the Kingdom of God and dreams of the glorious work of God that will happen through the up and coming disciples of Jesus. I have dreams of the work of God, exploding, when all of you grow to be able to teach the Bible and raise disciples. This usually takes 25 years of ministry. Young men will see visions, like Tim's vision for a student group on campus and his vision for a NIU UBF website to post ministry photos. And Augustine and Sarah's vision for the CRMS Bible club or the Jennifer's vision to be a blessing to the Christian fellowship at the High School. Many in our ministry had vision for 3,000 members at Purdue '08 with 1,000 foreign delegates. God has fulfilled this vision and we are all excited. May God fill all of you with his hope, vision and word this summer.
Lastly, we were all comforted by the fact that God is our refuge. Look at 3:16b, "… But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. " There is a popular song, "It's All Because Of Jesus I'm Alive." This is so true. It is all because of our refuge and stronghold Jesus that we are alive. The trials of life do not have to crush us. Our sins do not need to harass us like a plague of locusts. We don't have live in desolation. We don't have to taste eternal condemnation due us for our many sins. No. There is a very true and real hope for those who repent and cry out to Jesus. God himself will be our refuge and our stronghold. When we are found, in Jesus, through repentance and faith, we enter into our refuge. We find shelter and peace. It is a healing place, a restoring place and place of strength. It is a place where we can grow in the love of Jesus and in the image of God. It is a place where we can serve God's holy purpose in our lives and this place is available for anyone for 2: 32a reads, " And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved;…"
Through our study of Joel, let us cease and desist from complaining about our life's troubles and instead let us rend our hearts, that is repent, and cry out to Jesus. Then he will restore our lives, especially our spiritual lives and fill our hearts with his dreams and visions. With his Spirit dwelling in our hearts, we can give his word to the students of NIU and Kishwaukee College. Let us find ourselves in our refuge, Jesus Christ and live as areas of refuge for students until they can learn to cry out to Jesus. May God grant each of us clear direction for our summer ministry through the words of God.
Colossians 3:18-4:1 Message
Christ In The Family And At Work
(A Jesus Centered House Church)
Colossians 3:18-4:1 Lesson 6
Key Verse: 3:23 Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
" Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,"
In any society there must be spiritual order in our relationships. The New Testament includes many instructions concerning relationships. Unless you are a hermit, you are constantly interacting with people. This summer I was interacting with thousands of fellow Dekalbers at the Corn Fest. It felt good to be around my peeps. Cornfest is one thing, but where else do we interact the most if not within our families, schools and jobs? In this passage Paul gives Christians instructions on how they can relate to others who are the closest in their lives. Paul gives rules for three sets of household relationships, husbands and wives, parents and children, and masters and slaves. In each case there is mutual responsibility to submit, love, to obey and encourage, to work hard and be fair. It is a difficult passage to study, because we all have not been perfect fathers, or children or wives or husbands or coworkers. It is difficult to talk about and discuss certain issues. But we need to admit that we all need to grow in these areas and face the word of God with courage and let it change us. Most people read these instructions for the other person and ignore the ones that apply to themselves. We must seek to find the appropriate verse(s) for ourselves and not think about the other person. Through this passage may we examine our family, school and work relationships and find out how we can relate to one another as God intended.
Part l: Christian Wives And Husbands (3:18-19)
After addressing the Christian community Paul’s next focus is on the family? (What is a Christian family if not a Jesus-centered house church?) Look at verses 18-19. " Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” The family is created and ordained by God. He created us to be united and be fruitful. Nowadays the definition of family is changing. For many it is not the atomic family of the biological mother and father. It could be mixed family with step brothers and sisters. It can be a family led by a single parent. It could be a group of people who come together because they are committed to one another, like students sharing a common life together. But there is one definition of family that I like. It is from a plaque that I have in my home that says, “Family…where each lives for the other and all live for God.” This is the best definition of family.
The family is meant to reflect the very heart of God. Actually, God forms a family with us. He is our heavenly Father. We have the privilege of becoming part of his family when we receive Jesus and believe in his name. (John 1:12) The family is a place to reflect the love of God and commune in that love. The family is the crux of God’s work. It is the unit that the church is built on. We need healthy, godly families to build healthy, godly churches. When people come in contact with such families they begin to have hope for themselves. They can have a sense of family. This leaves a lasting impression on Bible students. We can see that when we hosted Janice and her family. Zoe and Shyanna stayed for 8 months. Jamie stayed for a year and Janice for two years. Prior to that time their lives were in turmoil. But they could be exposed to our family. Though we are not perfect, God used us to give them all a glimpse on what a Christ centered family could be and they will always remember us. Indeed godly families are the foundation of any work of God.
The first relationship that Paul deals with is the husband and wife relationship. Wives are ultra important in God’s ministry. Wife, in Chinese, means “Sun in the house.” If there is no sun in the house then the children become very cold. Paul gives some very controversial direction to Christian wives? Look at verse 18, “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” Submit, means to “yield; surrender” (The Mirriam-Webster Dictionary c. 1974) Submitting to another person is an often misunderstood concept. Submitting does not mean that women are slaves to their husbands. It does not mean becoming a doormat. In a Christian marriage relationship, both husband and wife are called to submit, subordinating their personal desires for the good of the other, while all the while submitting themselves to Jesus as Lord. For the wife, this means willingly supporting her husband’s leadership in Christ. We can not get around this. According to the Bible, the man is the spiritual head of the family. Ephesians 5:22-24 reads, “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." Why is submitting so emphasized? Let’s think about this.
But nowadays this is a very touchy subject. Most women do not agree that they should submit to their husbands. Most feel that marriage should be a life of perfect partnership where leadership is determined by the melding of two minds and wills, the husband’s and the wife’s, in perfect harmony. Maybe this is possible in the Garden of Eden, in the presence of the Lord himself. It might be possible when two completely rational people come together and pray prior to each decision to be made. It might be possible when two people are completely united in hope, and vision and mission. This would be the perfect scenario. But we are not living in the perfect world. People are not that rational and couples are not that united. People just don’t agree with each other and in their disagreements, they loose respect for each other. These could be contributing factors for the high divorce rate. When Christian spouses can not agree, even after praying to God, consulting their Bible and Christian friends and talking to their pastor, then what should they do? Call it quits? No way! The secret to overcoming is submission…yielding.
There are several reasons why submission is important. First, an attitude of submission creates a good environment in the home. When you analyze fights, most fight happen because nobody wants to yield. God’s work can not go on and his glory can not be revealed when there is strife. I know of Bible colleges that will not award a degree to people whose families are not in order. Even to those who have completed all of the course requirements. And rightly so. A house can be peaceful when people yield to one another.
Second, being able to submit is a sign of maturity as a person. Children will not submit to each other. From childhood girls are known to be more mature than boys. Maybe God knows that women have a greater capacity to yield than men do.
Third, submission is a reflection of the character of God. Think about it. What does God do when we are headstrong and insist on our own ways? Does he not yield and submit and step back and let us go our own way for a time? In this way God allows us to grow and mature without feeling belittled and crushed. Christ – at whose name “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Php 2:10)- submitted his will to the Father. We honor Christ when we reflect this same attitude of submission in our own lives.
Fourth, submission helps Christian husbands to grow spiritually. All women want a husband who is handsome, funny, spontaneous, adventurous, faithful and who can love them and provide for their families. They also want to have a spiritual man, who is sensitive to their spiritual needs. It would be nice if we could find such a person who has all of these qualities right away so that we spend all of married days in wedded bliss. But this is a fantasy. When we get married we are faced with each others’ quirks, weaknesses and sins and we easily become disappointed. God brings us together to grow and mature together. There is a saying, “Behind every great man is a great women.” If a women wants a spiritual husband, they need to help their “man” grow spiritually. When a woman respects her husband’s leadership, then the husband can grow to be a great man, even if his arms are like two wet noodles. Wives need to pray, plant God’s word, love, bare and respect, as well as submit. Then, when their “man” starts to blossom spiritually, becoming the “Hall Mark” man they always wanted. They will discover that God’s direction to submit was the best direction after all.
Submission is rarely a problem in homes were both partners have a strong relationship with Christ and where each is concerned for the happiness of the other. But there are some wives who cringe because their husbands are not believers and they are convinced that their husbands are taking the family in the wrong direction. Most times, women are more mature, more wise, more able and sometimes make more money, than their spouses. Some wives say, “Why should I submit to you?” This may be the case. But God still wants wives to wisely and prayerfully submit. 1 Peter 3:1 reads, “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,” I say wisely and prayerfully, because there are ways that a godly woman can steer the family and still practice the Bible’s mandate to submit to her husband. Think of Isaac and Rebekah.
If all of these reasons don’t convince you that submitting to your husband is the right things to do then the bottom line is that it is a matter or obedience to God. Submitting to their husbands is like submitting to God’s sovereignty. It is an expression of faith in God.
We talked a lot about Christian wives, but what about Christian husbands? Let’s read verse 19, "Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them." Paul might have brought this up because Christian men, influenced by Roman custom, were not used to treating their wives with respect and love. But Christian men must be different than your typical Roman man. How should a man love his wife? “Love” here, does not mean physical love “eros”. Physical love is limited. Paul means “agape” love, which is God’s love for people. Think about Jesus’ love for us. A husband must love his wife as Christ loved the church. Listen to what Paul says in Ephesians 5:25-28, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” Jesus loved us unconditionally. Husbands need to reflect this love with their wives. Jesus’ love is also a love that takes the initiative. When there is a spat between a husband and a wife, someone has to take the initiative to restore the relationship. God is also evangelical in his love. God’s love is unconditional and sacrificial. With this in mind, we can determine to reveal Jesus to our wives. The best way is to have sincere concern for her spiritual life. Mostly Jesus gave up his life to save us. Husbands should commit their lives to loving their wives. If there is still confusion, then husbands should think about how much they love their own bodies. Then they will know how to love their wives.
The love of God is like heavenly sunshine. Love is like living water to a thirsty soul. A woman is like a beautiful flower that can blossom into fullness with heavenly sunshine. Just as men need a wife’s respect to grow as a man, a woman needs a husband’s love and care to blossom and grow. Then they continue to be more and more beautiful and spiritual. When children see and hear their parents loving and respecting each other, they can be very secure and happy. Indeed the best gift that a father can give their kids is to love their mother. And when the husband loves their spouse like this, then their wives are willing to submit to them. No wife needs to fear submitting to a man who loves her with the love of Jesus.
Paul tells Christian husbands not to be harsh with their wives in verse 19b. A husband should never be harsh. As we already established, women are like flowers. Men are rough and can easily crush flowers. Men try to protect their pride. They want respect. If a husband does not feel respected then some men react by being harsh. A man’s harsh treatment of his wife can come from a lack of understanding about humanity, thoughtlessness and selfishness. It could come from a lack of experience with the grace of God themselves. It could be a very bad habit. A husband should never be harsh. When a person is harsh it generally means that they are loosing their means of control. Harshness is a last desperate attempt to stay in control. There are other ways than to resort to harshness. What about praying for and serving each other instead? Ultimately, we need to realize our weaknesses and ask for God’s help.
Part ll: Children And Parents (20- 21)
In a house church, children have an obligation to their parents? Look at verse 20, "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." Children should not have selective hearing when it comes to obeying their parents. Nor should they be “home blind” to their parents’ commands. Children are called to obey their parents in everything. Obeying their parents has its roots in love and respect and honoring their parents. If there is no respect of love then nobody can obey anybody. Paul says in Ephesians 6:2-3, "2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." There a lot of advantages to obeying their parents. What about college tuition?
For their children to obey, parents need to have a team concept. We are all part of a team, Jesus’ team. If you are sincerely serving God, alongside your kids, and they know that you love them and love God, then they will obey you. You can’t be a disconnected parent with a “do as I say and not as I do attitude.”
Children need to obey. Ultimately they need to obey their parents because it pleases the Lord. And think about…if child can not obey their parents who they see, will they ever obey God. Children should practice obeying God, by obeying their parents. This type of relationship will become manifest if both parents and children put the interests of others above their own – that is, if they submit to one another. But there are limits to this obedience. Ephesians 6:1 reads, " Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Children are not commanded to disobey God in obeying their parents.
But parents need to be very careful in raising their kids. Verse 21, “:21, "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged." Embitter: “To arouse bitter feelings…marked by intensity of severity; distress or hatred.” (Merriam Webster Dictionary c. 1974) Children must be handled with care. Don’t alienate them by nagging, or destroying their self-respect. Never make them loose heart. Paul urges fathers to not make their kids angry, but rather plant the hope of God in their young hearts. How can they do this? It is simple, spend time with them, maintain communication, respect them, give them freedom and respect their choices, be a good influence. Have regular 1:1 Bible study with them. This is the best way to plant the hope of God in their young hearts.
Part lll: Christian Work Ethics (3:22-4:1)
Master and slaves were another important part of the society and Paul addresses this too. Look at verses 22-23, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men," Slaves played an important an important part in Paul’s world. There were several million of them in the Roman Empire. Some cites were 2/3 slaves. Because many slaves and owners had become Christians, the early church had to deal with the question of master/slave relations.
First, Christian slaves. Basically, Paul urges them that they must be slaves of Christ and do their best to work for the benefit of their master. Though they may be slaves humanly, they are not slaves in the sight of God. They are servants of God. They are called to lead their master’s household and fellow slaves to Christ.
Living in this world there are many bosses and many slaves. All of our political systems have, in some ways, produced a master class and a slave class. Some days we all feel that we are slaves to our bosses, our jobs, and our text books. Some of us are visa slaves. So what should we do? Slaves are told to work hard as though their master were Christ himself (3:22-25). Simply apply this principle to whatever situation you find yourself in. For example Christian employees should do their jobs as if Jesus Christ were their supervisor. Students should study as if Jesus was their professor. Your work can be an act of worship. When you have this attitude you can be happy because you know you are serving Jesus and will get a heavenly reward. Verse 24 reads, "24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
What should masters do for their slaves? Colossians 4:1, "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven." Masters were to provide what was just and fair. They should pay them, provide health care, give them some leisure time, provide food and shelter, educate them. Most importantly they should provide a means for their slaves to worship Jesus. Today, those who find themselves in boss or supervisor positions should respect their employees. Leaders should take care of their volunteers. If you have responsibility over others, make sure you do what is right and fair, knowing that you are accountable to your Master in heaven. (4:1)
In this passage we learn that we should have God honoring relationships with people around us. Wives must learn the wisdom of submitting to their husbands. (and husbands must learn this too.) Husbands must learn to love their wives with a godly love. Children must learn to obey their parents in the Lord and parents need to set the example for their children. Christian workers and students must work hard as if they are serving Jesus himself and Christian supervisors must respect and provide for those under their care. When Christ is the center of all of our relationships then Jesus can be glorified among us and the kingdom of God can grow through us.
(A Jesus Centered House Church)
Colossians 3:18-4:1 Lesson 6
Key Verse: 3:23 Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
" Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,"
In any society there must be spiritual order in our relationships. The New Testament includes many instructions concerning relationships. Unless you are a hermit, you are constantly interacting with people. This summer I was interacting with thousands of fellow Dekalbers at the Corn Fest. It felt good to be around my peeps. Cornfest is one thing, but where else do we interact the most if not within our families, schools and jobs? In this passage Paul gives Christians instructions on how they can relate to others who are the closest in their lives. Paul gives rules for three sets of household relationships, husbands and wives, parents and children, and masters and slaves. In each case there is mutual responsibility to submit, love, to obey and encourage, to work hard and be fair. It is a difficult passage to study, because we all have not been perfect fathers, or children or wives or husbands or coworkers. It is difficult to talk about and discuss certain issues. But we need to admit that we all need to grow in these areas and face the word of God with courage and let it change us. Most people read these instructions for the other person and ignore the ones that apply to themselves. We must seek to find the appropriate verse(s) for ourselves and not think about the other person. Through this passage may we examine our family, school and work relationships and find out how we can relate to one another as God intended.
Part l: Christian Wives And Husbands (3:18-19)
After addressing the Christian community Paul’s next focus is on the family? (What is a Christian family if not a Jesus-centered house church?) Look at verses 18-19. " Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” The family is created and ordained by God. He created us to be united and be fruitful. Nowadays the definition of family is changing. For many it is not the atomic family of the biological mother and father. It could be mixed family with step brothers and sisters. It can be a family led by a single parent. It could be a group of people who come together because they are committed to one another, like students sharing a common life together. But there is one definition of family that I like. It is from a plaque that I have in my home that says, “Family…where each lives for the other and all live for God.” This is the best definition of family.
The family is meant to reflect the very heart of God. Actually, God forms a family with us. He is our heavenly Father. We have the privilege of becoming part of his family when we receive Jesus and believe in his name. (John 1:12) The family is a place to reflect the love of God and commune in that love. The family is the crux of God’s work. It is the unit that the church is built on. We need healthy, godly families to build healthy, godly churches. When people come in contact with such families they begin to have hope for themselves. They can have a sense of family. This leaves a lasting impression on Bible students. We can see that when we hosted Janice and her family. Zoe and Shyanna stayed for 8 months. Jamie stayed for a year and Janice for two years. Prior to that time their lives were in turmoil. But they could be exposed to our family. Though we are not perfect, God used us to give them all a glimpse on what a Christ centered family could be and they will always remember us. Indeed godly families are the foundation of any work of God.
The first relationship that Paul deals with is the husband and wife relationship. Wives are ultra important in God’s ministry. Wife, in Chinese, means “Sun in the house.” If there is no sun in the house then the children become very cold. Paul gives some very controversial direction to Christian wives? Look at verse 18, “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” Submit, means to “yield; surrender” (The Mirriam-Webster Dictionary c. 1974) Submitting to another person is an often misunderstood concept. Submitting does not mean that women are slaves to their husbands. It does not mean becoming a doormat. In a Christian marriage relationship, both husband and wife are called to submit, subordinating their personal desires for the good of the other, while all the while submitting themselves to Jesus as Lord. For the wife, this means willingly supporting her husband’s leadership in Christ. We can not get around this. According to the Bible, the man is the spiritual head of the family. Ephesians 5:22-24 reads, “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." Why is submitting so emphasized? Let’s think about this.
But nowadays this is a very touchy subject. Most women do not agree that they should submit to their husbands. Most feel that marriage should be a life of perfect partnership where leadership is determined by the melding of two minds and wills, the husband’s and the wife’s, in perfect harmony. Maybe this is possible in the Garden of Eden, in the presence of the Lord himself. It might be possible when two completely rational people come together and pray prior to each decision to be made. It might be possible when two people are completely united in hope, and vision and mission. This would be the perfect scenario. But we are not living in the perfect world. People are not that rational and couples are not that united. People just don’t agree with each other and in their disagreements, they loose respect for each other. These could be contributing factors for the high divorce rate. When Christian spouses can not agree, even after praying to God, consulting their Bible and Christian friends and talking to their pastor, then what should they do? Call it quits? No way! The secret to overcoming is submission…yielding.
There are several reasons why submission is important. First, an attitude of submission creates a good environment in the home. When you analyze fights, most fight happen because nobody wants to yield. God’s work can not go on and his glory can not be revealed when there is strife. I know of Bible colleges that will not award a degree to people whose families are not in order. Even to those who have completed all of the course requirements. And rightly so. A house can be peaceful when people yield to one another.
Second, being able to submit is a sign of maturity as a person. Children will not submit to each other. From childhood girls are known to be more mature than boys. Maybe God knows that women have a greater capacity to yield than men do.
Third, submission is a reflection of the character of God. Think about it. What does God do when we are headstrong and insist on our own ways? Does he not yield and submit and step back and let us go our own way for a time? In this way God allows us to grow and mature without feeling belittled and crushed. Christ – at whose name “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Php 2:10)- submitted his will to the Father. We honor Christ when we reflect this same attitude of submission in our own lives.
Fourth, submission helps Christian husbands to grow spiritually. All women want a husband who is handsome, funny, spontaneous, adventurous, faithful and who can love them and provide for their families. They also want to have a spiritual man, who is sensitive to their spiritual needs. It would be nice if we could find such a person who has all of these qualities right away so that we spend all of married days in wedded bliss. But this is a fantasy. When we get married we are faced with each others’ quirks, weaknesses and sins and we easily become disappointed. God brings us together to grow and mature together. There is a saying, “Behind every great man is a great women.” If a women wants a spiritual husband, they need to help their “man” grow spiritually. When a woman respects her husband’s leadership, then the husband can grow to be a great man, even if his arms are like two wet noodles. Wives need to pray, plant God’s word, love, bare and respect, as well as submit. Then, when their “man” starts to blossom spiritually, becoming the “Hall Mark” man they always wanted. They will discover that God’s direction to submit was the best direction after all.
Submission is rarely a problem in homes were both partners have a strong relationship with Christ and where each is concerned for the happiness of the other. But there are some wives who cringe because their husbands are not believers and they are convinced that their husbands are taking the family in the wrong direction. Most times, women are more mature, more wise, more able and sometimes make more money, than their spouses. Some wives say, “Why should I submit to you?” This may be the case. But God still wants wives to wisely and prayerfully submit. 1 Peter 3:1 reads, “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,” I say wisely and prayerfully, because there are ways that a godly woman can steer the family and still practice the Bible’s mandate to submit to her husband. Think of Isaac and Rebekah.
If all of these reasons don’t convince you that submitting to your husband is the right things to do then the bottom line is that it is a matter or obedience to God. Submitting to their husbands is like submitting to God’s sovereignty. It is an expression of faith in God.
We talked a lot about Christian wives, but what about Christian husbands? Let’s read verse 19, "Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them." Paul might have brought this up because Christian men, influenced by Roman custom, were not used to treating their wives with respect and love. But Christian men must be different than your typical Roman man. How should a man love his wife? “Love” here, does not mean physical love “eros”. Physical love is limited. Paul means “agape” love, which is God’s love for people. Think about Jesus’ love for us. A husband must love his wife as Christ loved the church. Listen to what Paul says in Ephesians 5:25-28, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” Jesus loved us unconditionally. Husbands need to reflect this love with their wives. Jesus’ love is also a love that takes the initiative. When there is a spat between a husband and a wife, someone has to take the initiative to restore the relationship. God is also evangelical in his love. God’s love is unconditional and sacrificial. With this in mind, we can determine to reveal Jesus to our wives. The best way is to have sincere concern for her spiritual life. Mostly Jesus gave up his life to save us. Husbands should commit their lives to loving their wives. If there is still confusion, then husbands should think about how much they love their own bodies. Then they will know how to love their wives.
The love of God is like heavenly sunshine. Love is like living water to a thirsty soul. A woman is like a beautiful flower that can blossom into fullness with heavenly sunshine. Just as men need a wife’s respect to grow as a man, a woman needs a husband’s love and care to blossom and grow. Then they continue to be more and more beautiful and spiritual. When children see and hear their parents loving and respecting each other, they can be very secure and happy. Indeed the best gift that a father can give their kids is to love their mother. And when the husband loves their spouse like this, then their wives are willing to submit to them. No wife needs to fear submitting to a man who loves her with the love of Jesus.
Paul tells Christian husbands not to be harsh with their wives in verse 19b. A husband should never be harsh. As we already established, women are like flowers. Men are rough and can easily crush flowers. Men try to protect their pride. They want respect. If a husband does not feel respected then some men react by being harsh. A man’s harsh treatment of his wife can come from a lack of understanding about humanity, thoughtlessness and selfishness. It could come from a lack of experience with the grace of God themselves. It could be a very bad habit. A husband should never be harsh. When a person is harsh it generally means that they are loosing their means of control. Harshness is a last desperate attempt to stay in control. There are other ways than to resort to harshness. What about praying for and serving each other instead? Ultimately, we need to realize our weaknesses and ask for God’s help.
Part ll: Children And Parents (20- 21)
In a house church, children have an obligation to their parents? Look at verse 20, "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." Children should not have selective hearing when it comes to obeying their parents. Nor should they be “home blind” to their parents’ commands. Children are called to obey their parents in everything. Obeying their parents has its roots in love and respect and honoring their parents. If there is no respect of love then nobody can obey anybody. Paul says in Ephesians 6:2-3, "2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." There a lot of advantages to obeying their parents. What about college tuition?
For their children to obey, parents need to have a team concept. We are all part of a team, Jesus’ team. If you are sincerely serving God, alongside your kids, and they know that you love them and love God, then they will obey you. You can’t be a disconnected parent with a “do as I say and not as I do attitude.”
Children need to obey. Ultimately they need to obey their parents because it pleases the Lord. And think about…if child can not obey their parents who they see, will they ever obey God. Children should practice obeying God, by obeying their parents. This type of relationship will become manifest if both parents and children put the interests of others above their own – that is, if they submit to one another. But there are limits to this obedience. Ephesians 6:1 reads, " Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Children are not commanded to disobey God in obeying their parents.
But parents need to be very careful in raising their kids. Verse 21, “:21, "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged." Embitter: “To arouse bitter feelings…marked by intensity of severity; distress or hatred.” (Merriam Webster Dictionary c. 1974) Children must be handled with care. Don’t alienate them by nagging, or destroying their self-respect. Never make them loose heart. Paul urges fathers to not make their kids angry, but rather plant the hope of God in their young hearts. How can they do this? It is simple, spend time with them, maintain communication, respect them, give them freedom and respect their choices, be a good influence. Have regular 1:1 Bible study with them. This is the best way to plant the hope of God in their young hearts.
Part lll: Christian Work Ethics (3:22-4:1)
Master and slaves were another important part of the society and Paul addresses this too. Look at verses 22-23, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men," Slaves played an important an important part in Paul’s world. There were several million of them in the Roman Empire. Some cites were 2/3 slaves. Because many slaves and owners had become Christians, the early church had to deal with the question of master/slave relations.
First, Christian slaves. Basically, Paul urges them that they must be slaves of Christ and do their best to work for the benefit of their master. Though they may be slaves humanly, they are not slaves in the sight of God. They are servants of God. They are called to lead their master’s household and fellow slaves to Christ.
Living in this world there are many bosses and many slaves. All of our political systems have, in some ways, produced a master class and a slave class. Some days we all feel that we are slaves to our bosses, our jobs, and our text books. Some of us are visa slaves. So what should we do? Slaves are told to work hard as though their master were Christ himself (3:22-25). Simply apply this principle to whatever situation you find yourself in. For example Christian employees should do their jobs as if Jesus Christ were their supervisor. Students should study as if Jesus was their professor. Your work can be an act of worship. When you have this attitude you can be happy because you know you are serving Jesus and will get a heavenly reward. Verse 24 reads, "24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
What should masters do for their slaves? Colossians 4:1, "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven." Masters were to provide what was just and fair. They should pay them, provide health care, give them some leisure time, provide food and shelter, educate them. Most importantly they should provide a means for their slaves to worship Jesus. Today, those who find themselves in boss or supervisor positions should respect their employees. Leaders should take care of their volunteers. If you have responsibility over others, make sure you do what is right and fair, knowing that you are accountable to your Master in heaven. (4:1)
In this passage we learn that we should have God honoring relationships with people around us. Wives must learn the wisdom of submitting to their husbands. (and husbands must learn this too.) Husbands must learn to love their wives with a godly love. Children must learn to obey their parents in the Lord and parents need to set the example for their children. Christian workers and students must work hard as if they are serving Jesus himself and Christian supervisors must respect and provide for those under their care. When Christ is the center of all of our relationships then Jesus can be glorified among us and the kingdom of God can grow through us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)