New Life…New Relationships – Colossians Part 6
Colossians
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.Colossians 3:18-19
20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.Colossians 3:20-21
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord.23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:22-23
24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.[a] 25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.Colossians 3:24-25
Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven. Colossians 4:1
Colossians 3:18-4:1
New relationships mean…
- Be unselfish toward My Family
3 family relationships:
- Wives & Husbands
- Children & Fathers
- Slaves & Masters
4 truths about Submission:
It does not cancel out our equality
Everyone must submit to other people – everyone submits to someone, Jesus submitted to the father, govt
It does not mean that if asked to we would disobey God – Paul and Silas
It cannot be imposed
The key word for husbands: Love
The key word for children: Obey
The key word for fathers: Dont
Three things for dads to watch out for
- Don’t insult them
- Don’t ignore them
- Don’t indulge them
A single word that governs all our relationships: unselfish Love
- Be devoted to Prayer
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2
How do I DO devotion?
- Be prayerful
- Be thankful
- 3. Be wise with Unbelievers
3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive[a] so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:3-6
- Prayer in the way you think
Specifically: Pray for an open door
Specifically: pray for a clear message
- Wisdom in the way you act
- Grace in the way you talk
- Be Connected with Believers
7 Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 9 I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening here.
10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. 11 Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!
12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. 15 Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters[a] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
16 After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them.
17 And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”
18 HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL.
Remember my chains.
May God’s grace be with you. Colossians 4:7-18