Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
April 25, 2022
Read Colossians 3:18-25
18 Wives, submit to your husbands in a way that is appropriate in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything because this pleases the Lord. 21 Parents, don’t provoke your children in a way that ends up discouraging them. 22 Slaves, obey your masters on earth in everything. Don’t just obey like people pleasers when they are watching. Instead, obey with the single motivation of fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people. 24 You know that you will receive an inheritance as a reward. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 But evildoers will receive their reward for their evil actions. There is no discrimination.
Good Morning, We are all precious in the sight of our Lord.
Verse 18 of this passage has been highly debated over the years, and there are many theologians who have given their ideas regarding this verse. What does it mean to submit yourself to another? Does it mean that you are of lesser stature than the one to whom you submit?
I think that we must look to Jesus to whom Paul faithfully worked to serve. Jesus came to earth to teach a new way. Jesus purposefully humbled himself to all as he served God. Christ himself is the model for equality with God and submission to the one with whom He is equal. In this context, husband and wife should submit themselves to each other, but then also to God.
Paul was writing to show this new way within the context of a typical household of that time which would have included a father, mother, children, and most likely servants. Based on this cultural structure, Paul addressed the needs and expectations of a Christian family.
Prior to hearing the Christian teachings, the people of Colosse were Gentiles and there were many ideas about how one should live floating around the area. There were Greek teachings, Jewish teachings, pagan teachings, and now Christian teachings. Paul was in prison so he was answering concerns brought to him. The biggest problem seemed to be that many were picking and choosing the parts of each new teaching and accepting them as their own like choosing from items on a buffet, each ready for the taking.
Just prior to these verses, Paul shares the need for focusing on spiritual life instead of our earthly life. Live now as we would in heaven. “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience… Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:12-16).”
After addressing the family structure, Paul concludes by saying “23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people. 24 You know that you will receive an inheritance as a reward. You serve the Lord Christ.” Through Paul’s teachings, we learn the importance of living for the Lord in all things.
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. May we learn and practice living in Jesus as we follow our daily journeys. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Today I will honor God in whatever I do.
Love God! Pastor Liz
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