Twin City church of Christ Blog
“Oct 1, 2024 - Following Jesus at Home”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsFollowing Jesus at Home
Reading: Colossians 3:18-4:1
Our faith in Jesus also transforms our family relationships. We not only begin to treat our families differently, but we do it because of Jesus. “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them”(Col 3:18-19). Jesus has shown us how to submit fully to the Father and to submit ourselves to the needs of others, so wives’ submission to husbands is “fitting in the Lord.” Meanwhile, husbands follow Jesus’ example of self-emptying love (see Eph 5:25) with their wives, especially by refusing to treat them roughly or unkindly. Following Jesus at home means that our marriages are not power struggles where one party makes demands or seeks to dominate, but mates serve one another. “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged”(Col 3:20-21). Obedient children please Jesus. Gentle parenting pleases Jesus.
Paul also wants new life in Christ to affect servant-master relationships. “Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters…Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven”(Col 3:22, 4:1). On both sides of the arrangement, Christians are to treat the other party well. But notice the focus on Jesus even here: “not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord”(Col 3:22) and working “heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”(Col 3:23) and remembering that “you also have a Master in heaven”(Col 4:1). Jesus’ presence, expectations, and loving example hover over our work relationships, reminding us that every arena of our lives is now under his lordship.
Following Jesus is not strictly about what we do in church buildings. We follow Jesus when we discuss things with our husbands and wives, when we raise our children, when we listen to our parents, when we go to work, and when we give instructions to others. All of our interactions, no matter how small, must reflect the wholehearted commitment we have made to him. Every arena of our lives is now under his lordship.
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One Thing to Think About: How well do my family and work relationships reflect my devotion to Jesus?
One Thing to Pray For: A desire to “work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men”
