Good morning,
Quite often we forget that whatever we do in the Kingdom is for our good and growing and because of our love for the Father. "Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way". (Col. 3:15-17; Message Bible)
We must live peaceable lives, not creating or stirring up drama, {the enemy will do his job}. From verses 18-22, the Word covers our stations in life and tells us how to keep peace and how to live our lives for God in word and deed. "Wives, be subject to your husbands [subordinate and adapt yourselves to them], as is right and fitting and your proper duty in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives [be affectionate and sympathetic with them] and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children [do not be hard on them or harass them], lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated. [Do not break their spirit.] Servants, [those who work for someone else] obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of men, but in simplicity of purpose [with all your heart] because of your reverence for the Lord and as a sincere expression of your devotion to Him". (Amplified Bible; Col. 3:18-22) Doing right and simply obeying God's Word with our words as well as our deeds, is what He is after. In this modern day world our purposes can become blurred and even abolished, because we can easily write God's Word off as being out- dated. We see children all the time who disobey; in the stores, at school, at church, and at home. We see husbands who don't love their wives, and wives who don't submit, and employees who never do what their employer's require. These were moral values that at one time were taught at home, schools, and churches. But now we are to timid to broach these subjects. God's Word is ageless, so it is always the final say-so in a Christian's life. The reason we obey is out of a sincere expression of devotion to Him. Devotion is profound dedication, consecration, earnest attachment to a cause or person, etc. loyalty, commitment, and dedication. The opposite of devotion is apathy, indifference, and negligence. We should never feel like it doesn't matter if I do the Word of God or not. Everything we do or say should be in light of whether it is pleasing to God or not.
We must live peaceable lives, not creating or stirring up drama, {the enemy will do his job}. From verses 18-22, the Word covers our stations in life and tells us how to keep peace and how to live our lives for God in word and deed. "Wives, be subject to your husbands [subordinate and adapt yourselves to them], as is right and fitting and your proper duty in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives [be affectionate and sympathetic with them] and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children [do not be hard on them or harass them], lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated. [Do not break their spirit.] Servants, [those who work for someone else] obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of men, but in simplicity of purpose [with all your heart] because of your reverence for the Lord and as a sincere expression of your devotion to Him". (Amplified Bible; Col. 3:18-22) Doing right and simply obeying God's Word with our words as well as our deeds, is what He is after. In this modern day world our purposes can become blurred and even abolished, because we can easily write God's Word off as being out- dated. We see children all the time who disobey; in the stores, at school, at church, and at home. We see husbands who don't love their wives, and wives who don't submit, and employees who never do what their employer's require. These were moral values that at one time were taught at home, schools, and churches. But now we are to timid to broach these subjects. God's Word is ageless, so it is always the final say-so in a Christian's life. The reason we obey is out of a sincere expression of devotion to Him. Devotion is profound dedication, consecration, earnest attachment to a cause or person, etc. loyalty, commitment, and dedication. The opposite of devotion is apathy, indifference, and negligence. We should never feel like it doesn't matter if I do the Word of God or not. Everything we do or say should be in light of whether it is pleasing to God or not.
"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites". (Col. 3:23-25; NLT) In other words you will reap what you sow, God is not mocked. He doesn't play favorites, whoever chooses to do His Word from a sincere devotion to God, this person will be rewarded [compensate, honor, recompense, pay, give prize] Paid back for not doing His Word, doesn't sound inviting! We must not become the kind of people who act like we want to do the Word, but only if it is for our own advantage. "As for you, son of man, your people who talk of you by the walls and in the doors of the houses say one to another, every one to his brother, Come and hear what the word is that comes forth from the Lord. And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear the words you say, but they will not do them; for with their mouths they show much love, but their hearts go after and are set on their [idolatrous greed for] gain. Behold, you are to them as a very lovely [love] song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument, for they hear your words but do not do them." (Ezek. 33:30-32) Let's not deceive ourselves, by a pretense of doing the Word. Make up our hearts and minds that a God who created this whole universe, surely knows what is best for us and trust that as we do His Word out of our sincere devotion for Him, He will reward us. He is a good Father!
Love,
Pastor D.
Daughters of Z 