Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching – like those who are strictly people-pleasers – but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 3:23 Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, 3:24 because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ. 3:25 For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions. 4:1 Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.
These verses can be summed up easily and quickly:
Treat others the way you would want to be treated. It is the Golden Rule.
Employees, obey your employers in EVERY respect, not just when they are looking. Don't just go through the motions. Be enthusiastic! You are really working for the Lord. Your extra work and good attitude will be rewarded, either on earth or in heaven. If you slack off, the Lord knows about that, too.
Employers treat your workers with justice and fairness. You are accountable to God for your treatment of those under your authority, whether good or bad. Treat them wrongly and you will pay!
Those UNDER authority must OBEY those IN authority. Those IN authority must SERVE those under authority. This is a Biblical principal that applies in the home and in the workplace.
It's God's way!
e premte, 29 qershor 2007
e martë, 26 qershor 2007
कolossians ३:२०-21
Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord। 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become disheartened.
Paul writes directly to the children। Does he think they will be reading this letter? I don't think so।
This verse is for the parents। Children SHOULD obey their parents. We have too many parents today who have this reversed. We have parents obeying their children. This is not to be and directly violates the teaching of the Bible.
The Bible sets forth a definite structure of authority। Children submit to parents. Wives submit to husbands. Husbands serve the family. The family submits to the civilian government. Civilian government serves the family. All submit to Christ. Christ voluntarily submitted to God the Father.
This is all pleasing to God। No one is putting themselves first. Everyone is preferring and serving others over himself. Organizational and family structures become unstable when this order is not observed. Sin enters the picture.
However, there is another issue। Fathers should not provoke their children to anger! They will become disheartened. Children are at the bottom of the pole. They must submit to everyone! It is easy to get disheartened when you are at the bottom.
So, parents don't hound, harass, and nag your kids. Don't ignore them, either. It makes them angry. But if you give an order, stick by it. Expect them to obey. We are accountable to God for the raising of our children.
Paul writes directly to the children। Does he think they will be reading this letter? I don't think so।
This verse is for the parents। Children SHOULD obey their parents. We have too many parents today who have this reversed. We have parents obeying their children. This is not to be and directly violates the teaching of the Bible.
The Bible sets forth a definite structure of authority। Children submit to parents. Wives submit to husbands. Husbands serve the family. The family submits to the civilian government. Civilian government serves the family. All submit to Christ. Christ voluntarily submitted to God the Father.
This is all pleasing to God। No one is putting themselves first. Everyone is preferring and serving others over himself. Organizational and family structures become unstable when this order is not observed. Sin enters the picture.
However, there is another issue। Fathers should not provoke their children to anger! They will become disheartened. Children are at the bottom of the pole. They must submit to everyone! It is easy to get disheartened when you are at the bottom.
So, parents don't hound, harass, and nag your kids. Don't ignore them, either. It makes them angry. But if you give an order, stick by it. Expect them to obey. We are accountable to God for the raising of our children.
e premte, 15 qershor 2007
''My database does not encompass the dynamics of human pair-bonding। ..." Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines।
Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.
''My database does not encompass the dynamics of human pair-bonding। ..." Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines।
Let's not be like Arnold! Let's turn to the Bible for wisdom and guidance।
The Bible encourages wives to submit to their husbands। This is not popular. Submission never has been a popular word in the U.S. From our beginnings, we have been a rebellious lot.
The Bible encourages men to love their wives as much as they love their own body। This is not popular in our me-first society.
At the root of the problem is a lack of understanding of the symbolic nature of marriage। Marriage was intended to symbolize the relationship between Jesus Christ and His Church. The Church is to submit to Christ as Lord and follow Him wherever He leads. Christ gave up everything for His Bride, the Church.
Men have the God-given responsibility to lead their wives to a deeper relationship with the Lord। We, husband and wife, are servants to the same Master.
So, wives, submit to the leadership of husbands that love you. If he is not leading like he should, encourage him! Help him to grow into the man that you desire, by the Grace of God. Husbands love your wives as you love your own body, as Christ loves the Church. It's the way God intended!
''My database does not encompass the dynamics of human pair-bonding। ..." Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines।
Let's not be like Arnold! Let's turn to the Bible for wisdom and guidance।
The Bible encourages wives to submit to their husbands। This is not popular. Submission never has been a popular word in the U.S. From our beginnings, we have been a rebellious lot.
The Bible encourages men to love their wives as much as they love their own body। This is not popular in our me-first society.
At the root of the problem is a lack of understanding of the symbolic nature of marriage। Marriage was intended to symbolize the relationship between Jesus Christ and His Church. The Church is to submit to Christ as Lord and follow Him wherever He leads. Christ gave up everything for His Bride, the Church.
Men have the God-given responsibility to lead their wives to a deeper relationship with the Lord। We, husband and wife, are servants to the same Master.
So, wives, submit to the leadership of husbands that love you. If he is not leading like he should, encourage him! Help him to grow into the man that you desire, by the Grace of God. Husbands love your wives as you love your own body, as Christ loves the Church. It's the way God intended!
e enjte, 14 qershor 2007
Colossians 3:16-17
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you. Remember His spoken words as recorded in Scripture. Mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are qualities that Jesus talked about and lived. The Bible is a rich resource because it contains His words, the words of life.
We are to teach and exhort one another with wisdom. Exhort means "to urge, advise, or caution earnestly." It's good to be zealous. But zeal should be tempered with wisdom. We should endeavor to help one another along wisely, step by step, growing closer to Him.
Singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Church singing is not just entertainment. Many songs and hymns are Scripture put to music. We should lift up our voices, not with pride, but with grace. We are giving a gift back to God and to other believers.
Everything we do, whether word or deed, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Give your life away to others and thank God for the opportunity.
Paul's vision for the Church, revealed to Him by Jesus, is one of unity and love.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you. Remember His spoken words as recorded in Scripture. Mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are qualities that Jesus talked about and lived. The Bible is a rich resource because it contains His words, the words of life.
We are to teach and exhort one another with wisdom. Exhort means "to urge, advise, or caution earnestly." It's good to be zealous. But zeal should be tempered with wisdom. We should endeavor to help one another along wisely, step by step, growing closer to Him.
Singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Church singing is not just entertainment. Many songs and hymns are Scripture put to music. We should lift up our voices, not with pride, but with grace. We are giving a gift back to God and to other believers.
Everything we do, whether word or deed, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Give your life away to others and thank God for the opportunity.
Paul's vision for the Church, revealed to Him by Jesus, is one of unity and love.
e mërkurë, 13 qershor 2007
Fulfillment of the soul
Colossians 3:14 And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. 3:15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful.
Paul has made a list of virtues: mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness. All of these are wonderful virtues. No one would disagree. The perfect superglue is love. It bonds all of these virtues together so that they operate in unity.
But how can I draw love out of myself when there is none to draw? Sometimes folks get under my skin. Sometimes folks are hard to love.
Is the problem with them? Or with me? It's really both.
My soul needs fulfillment. I need to be content with something. Generally, I look to people around me. Inevitably, they disappoint. Often, I try to find peace within myself. I am disappointed there also. It is hard to love those who continually let us down.
We have exchanged the One that can satisfy our souls, for other things or people that cannot satisfy in the same way. When we look to God for satisfaction, we are not let down. If we are satisfied with God, then we no longer need to look at those around us for fulfillment. They are relieved of this burden and we are free to love them.
Look to God to complete your soul. Then you will be free to love others as this verse commands.
Paul has made a list of virtues: mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness. All of these are wonderful virtues. No one would disagree. The perfect superglue is love. It bonds all of these virtues together so that they operate in unity.
But how can I draw love out of myself when there is none to draw? Sometimes folks get under my skin. Sometimes folks are hard to love.
Is the problem with them? Or with me? It's really both.
My soul needs fulfillment. I need to be content with something. Generally, I look to people around me. Inevitably, they disappoint. Often, I try to find peace within myself. I am disappointed there also. It is hard to love those who continually let us down.
We have exchanged the One that can satisfy our souls, for other things or people that cannot satisfy in the same way. When we look to God for satisfaction, we are not let down. If we are satisfied with God, then we no longer need to look at those around us for fulfillment. They are relieved of this burden and we are free to love them.
Look to God to complete your soul. Then you will be free to love others as this verse commands.
e hënë, 11 qershor 2007
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 3:13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.
Elect of God, take off that old man and his practices. Put on the new man, the REnewed man. Let Christ be your all in all.
The new man has a merciful heart. He does not take revenge.
The new man has a kind heart. He is tolerant and considerate of others. He does not wish any misfortune on
any person.
The new man has a humble heart. He is not arrogant or prideful.
The new man is gentle. He is not harsh or stern.
The new man is patient. He bears annoyance, misfortune, delay and hardship without complaining.
Most of all the new man bears with others. He overlooks flaws. He puts up with the peculiar things that people do.
Don't be a doormat, a pushover. If someone bothers you, deal with it. Confront the person. Don't talk about it. Do it. Yet, do it as the Elect of God, clothed as a new person. Air your grievance to the other persons face. Then be ready to forgive quickly.
The Lord has forgiven us for so much. In the same way, we forgive others when they are wrong, in His name, for His sake.
Elect of God, take off that old man and his practices. Put on the new man, the REnewed man. Let Christ be your all in all.
The new man has a merciful heart. He does not take revenge.
The new man has a kind heart. He is tolerant and considerate of others. He does not wish any misfortune on
any person.
The new man has a humble heart. He is not arrogant or prideful.
The new man is gentle. He is not harsh or stern.
The new man is patient. He bears annoyance, misfortune, delay and hardship without complaining.
Most of all the new man bears with others. He overlooks flaws. He puts up with the peculiar things that people do.
Don't be a doormat, a pushover. If someone bothers you, deal with it. Confront the person. Don't talk about it. Do it. Yet, do it as the Elect of God, clothed as a new person. Air your grievance to the other persons face. Then be ready to forgive quickly.
The Lord has forgiven us for so much. In the same way, we forgive others when they are wrong, in His name, for His sake.
e shtunë, 9 qershor 2007
The Pursuit of Holyness
Colossians 3:5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 3:7 You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. 3:8 But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 3:9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 3:10 and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 3:11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.
My mom told me about some scandals that went on years ago. Wife swapping, divorce, lesbian relationships among people she knew.
Most of them church members.
It shouldn't happen. When we come to Christ, we are commanded to take off the old man like you would take off dirty clothes.
I may fall tomorrow. God forbid. But today, I stand flat-footed before God and say that whatever part of me still belongs to this earth, I wish God would kill it.
The old man needs to be gone. Even though I'm the one that keeps calling him back, I know he needs to be gone.
My mom told me about some scandals that went on years ago. Wife swapping, divorce, lesbian relationships among people she knew.
Most of them church members.
It shouldn't happen. When we come to Christ, we are commanded to take off the old man like you would take off dirty clothes.
I may fall tomorrow. God forbid. But today, I stand flat-footed before God and say that whatever part of me still belongs to this earth, I wish God would kill it.
The old man needs to be gone. Even though I'm the one that keeps calling him back, I know he needs to be gone.
e premte, 8 qershor 2007
If you talk the talk, then walk the walk.
06/09/2007
Colossians 3:1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 3:2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3:3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 3:4 When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.
Tonight was the closing night of VBS at a nearby church. We love VBS and sign the kids up for as many as we can during the summer. Every night, the pastor gave an altar call. Over the course of the week, ten young people responded indicating that they would like to know Jesus. The pastor later counseled the children after the service about how to know Jesus as Savior. It was a good thing.
I'm never as happy as most other people when it comes to professions of faith. I'm more interested in the walk, not the talk. There is a definite theme of continuance in the Bible. Keep seeking the things that are above. Because that is where Jesus is, seated at the right hand of the Father. Keep thinking about things above and not earthly things. Make Christ your life. Do this and you will live!
Keep seeking Him. Keep thinking of Him. Keep running. Keep fighting.
Want to be with Jesus when He comes? Want to be saved? Then you must live out what you have spoken out!
Colossians 3:1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 3:2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3:3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 3:4 When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.
Tonight was the closing night of VBS at a nearby church. We love VBS and sign the kids up for as many as we can during the summer. Every night, the pastor gave an altar call. Over the course of the week, ten young people responded indicating that they would like to know Jesus. The pastor later counseled the children after the service about how to know Jesus as Savior. It was a good thing.
I'm never as happy as most other people when it comes to professions of faith. I'm more interested in the walk, not the talk. There is a definite theme of continuance in the Bible. Keep seeking the things that are above. Because that is where Jesus is, seated at the right hand of the Father. Keep thinking about things above and not earthly things. Make Christ your life. Do this and you will live!
Keep seeking Him. Keep thinking of Him. Keep running. Keep fighting.
Want to be with Jesus when He comes? Want to be saved? Then you must live out what you have spoken out!
Abonohu te:
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