Colossians 3:18-25 to 4:1 Relationships
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: October 15, 2020 Colossians 3:18-25 to 4:1
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
(Understanding the Text) The heading calls this rules for Christian households, but I would say that these are rather examples of doing everything as if we are serving Jesus, not humans. Thus, when women submit, they are submitting to live as wives who love Jesus. They are not placing themselves under someone arbitrarily to obey his every whim. Instead, they are being humble and looking out for the other’s best interests. They are not loudly putting down or ordering around. This was written in a culture where wives were required to obey their husbands. Servants were slaves who had to obey their masters. Children were under a parent’s total authority. Paul is saying that this is where life has placed you. Live for Jesus in this place, not for self and not necessarily for the person in power. It’s all for Jesus. In contrast, husbands and fathers and masters had total power over the people under them. Paul is saying live for Jesus in this place of power, not for self.
For today, I would say that this could apply to not gossiping and putting down our bosses, even when they are unjust. Instead, we should love them and work for them well, not as if they are in the place of Jesus, but because we are working for Jesus, we will be good workers. Wives don’t submit to a husband as if he were in the place of Jesus. Instead, wives submit because that is what wives did in that culture, but they submit and humbly love the other because they are serving Jesus first. This is not about obedience to another’s whims. This is about a way of life that puts others’ best interests before our own.
(Revelation of God) Paul is saying that if we live for Jesus no matter what our station in life or situation, we will receive the promises of God, which include life and land. If we live selfishly and ignore our Lord when it comes to our interpersonal relationships and jobs, we are saying that Jesus has no place there. Paul says if you choose not to live in Jesus, then you will die without Him.
(Understanding the Text) This advice has even more significance when it is put into the context of Onesimus accompanying the bearer of the letter to the Colossians. Onesimus was a runaway slave being sent back to his master Philemon, who was a Christian. Paul was basically saying that Onesimus should be accepted and treated well in the Master/Slave section. These relationships were on Paul’s mind because he had either just written or was about to write to Onesimus’ master to accept him without punishment for running away and to send him back to Paul as a freeman.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that I need to live for You in all my various roles, whether it is a situation of weakness or power. I need to present You in my life to all around me.