A few more messages to go before we wrap up this time together in this book.
It's been a great reminder of the need for prayer and the need for thanks.
Last month we kind of devoted some attention to prayer and had kind of our prayer month.
And this month is going to be devoted to Thanksgiving, our month of thanks.
And as a way to kind of build into and grow in thanks, we want to just put a few of our missionaries before you.
Not all of them, but just a few of the missionaries that we can.
One each week.
And introduce you to them if you've not met them by way of video.
And give you a chance to hear from them their word of thanks.
And then some ways in which God is using them.
But particularly as it relates to an initiative that we want to put before each of you.
So that you can participate in their thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving to God.
How we're going to ask you to do that is to participate in thanksgiving by giving financially.
A contribution of thanks to the Lord for our missionaries.
We're asking to raise $40,000 in the next several weeks.
And November 26th or November 30th will kind of be the final Sunday of our harvest offering.
And as you are making your gifts, just to designate them harvest offering.
And they'll go to one of several different categories or initiatives that our missionaries are putting in front of us.
These strategic opportunities for us to partner with them in a way to demonstrate thanks.
Of course, the foundation for giving financially and connected to thanks is the Lord Jesus himself.
2 Corinthians 9, verses 6-8 says this.
The point is this.
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.
And whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart.
Not reluctantly or under compulsion.
For God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times,
you might abound in every good work.
So we put together this little booklet.
It has several of the ways in which that you can contribute to in a financial way to our missionaries.
You can kind of understand the ways in which we're trying to raise money for them.
All of our giving extends to giving to God.
To thanksgiving to God.
That's what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9, 11-12.
He says,
You will be enriched in every way.
To be generous in every way.
Which through us produces, get this, thanksgivings to God.
Don't you love that?
For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints,
but is also overflowing, again, in many thanksgivings to God.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.
And so in our giving financially,
it is an overflow of what we've received in terms of this indescribable gift of God,
his grace to us.
And so this overflow of loving Jesus and thanking him spills out in thanksgivings to God through our gifts,
but also it nurtures and cultivates thanksgiving in them as they're thanking God for the way that he's provided for their needs.
So here's the McGinnis family, and I'll let you hear their testimony.
Hi, we are John and Johnny McGinnis with Triumph Global.
And as we think through the Thanksgiving season and time,
there are so many things that we can be thankful for,
and we just want to highlight a few of them.
The first thing that we think of is our new granddaughter,
who was just born this past Monday.
So thankful for safe delivery and for health for the mom,
as well as the addition to the other three that we have.
So this makes four for us, which is so exciting.
So thankful for our children and now for our grandchildren that the Lord has blessed us with.
The other thing that I am thankful for,
and we are thankful for,
is something I heard actually yesterday.
I was reading a newsletter from a friend of mine who is serving in Belarus,
and he's a national there,
and he was talking about his ministry and what God has enabled him to do.
And he and other pastors were able to travel to Russia,
of all places right now, into Moscow,
and he'd go to a conference for pastors.
And he talks about, at this conference,
they were challenged in the area of church planting
and how they continued to further the gospel.
One of the pastors that was with him was a guy by the name of Dennis.
And Dennis is really wrestling with where and how
and if God wants him to plant a church in Belarus.
But the funny thing is, or the interesting part really is,
Dennis is one of our students that we've had when we were in Ukraine.
And I know Dennis, I think, fairly well.
And it's just encouraging for me and for us to hear about students of ours
who are even in a time of war, a time of questioning,
are being challenged to further the gospel
and to plant churches in their home country.
So you can be praying for Dennis and for this decision that he is making.
And we want to thank each of you for your prayers and for your support
and for what God is doing in our lives and in your lives
as the ministry is furthered through the training of pastors.
So John and Johnny represent Tri-Am Ministry,
and there are several different missionaries from Tri-Am that we support.
And they essentially go around the world,
and they are responsible to help train pastors and Christian leaders around the world.
So one of the initiatives that we're proposing is helping them with a module,
so one of those training modules of pastors and Christian leaders.
And we would invite you to participate in that as well.
Of course, the reason why we give and the reason why we're here today
is because of the great gift that God has dispensed in our hearts.
The gift of salvation, His Son, Jesus Christ.
And so we can give many thanks to God because of the saving work that Christ has done for us.
We've read a lot about that in the book of Colossians
and what Christ has accomplished in terms of completing us because of Christ.
His ministry to us.
We were buried with Him in baptism.
We were raised with Him into eternal life.
We have been forgiven because of Him.
We enjoy triumph because of Him.
All of the benefits that we experience because of the work of Christ on our behalf.
And so because of the benefits of salvation,
the forgiveness of sin that we enjoy,
this union that we have in Christ,
all of the theology that we have been learning about,
now the Apostle Paul is going to begin to press in.
What will you do with the things that you know about God?
How will that change your life?
And not just change the things that you do,
but now how will the things that you do now be accompanied by a picture?
The picture of Christ that is showing up in your life.
And what does that picture look like?
Well, this morning we're going to look at a passage in Colossians 3,
beginning in verse 18.
And we're going to see that there is this portrait,
this painting,
this image that is being painted throughout this chapter,
throughout these verses.
And this portrait includes three primary and predominant features.
If you were to paint a picture of Christ,
if you were to describe Christ,
and you were to concentrate on three primary characteristics,
what three characteristics would you choose?
Well, maybe you would choose His holiness.
That's important.
And maybe you would focus on His grace,
because that's obviously important.
Maybe you would focus on His justice,
or His patience,
or His power.
And of course,
all of those things are important,
and they're significant pictures of God
that we find throughout the Scripture.
But the Apostle Paul is going to concentrate on three qualities
that are going to help fill out this picture of Christ,
His ministry.
And as we begin to embody those three characteristics,
we're not only going to be able to do what God says,
but we're going to show Christ through our life.
We're going to paint this beautiful portrait of Jesus
by the way we live.
Those three portraits,
those three characteristics,
those three features,
we're going to look at this morning.
The first portrait,
the first characteristic,
is the characteristic of submission.
That Christ,
in His submission,
helps us understand what submission looks like.
We're going to look at that.
And also,
we're going to look at love.
This feature,
this primary characteristic of love,
the love that husbands will have for their wives,
paints this beautiful portrait of Jesus,
this gospel portrait of Jesus.
We're going to see obedience,
and the significance that obedience has,
again,
in calling attention to the wonder
of who God is through His Son,
Jesus Christ.
And these three characteristics
are going to be the ones that will mark this study
and help to mark the picture
that God wants to paint through your life
so that the gospel can be visible,
can be clear,
can be radiant,
because you're picturing Christ.
Let me read these verses for us,
and then we'll jump into our study.
Colossians chapter 3,
beginning in verse 18.
If you're using the Pew Bible,
it's on page 984.
It says this,
Wives,
submit to your own 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.
Bond servants,
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.
Masters,
treat your bond servants
just and fairly,
knowing that you also
have a master in heaven.
As we draw our attention to verse 18,
we see this picture,
this portrait of submission,
this faith-filled submission of wives.
This picture that begins with you,
women.
It's a picture that begins with you.
This beautiful portrait of Christ.
And I don't want to continue to set that
in front of us.
This is not just about doing what you're told.
This is about illustrating the wonder
and the marvel of who God is
through your submission.
This word,
to submit,
is in the middle voice.
And it indicates
a voluntary expression.
This is something that women do
as a gift.
It's something that they offer.
Something that they extend.
And they do this to obey.
To be under control.
To be put in subjection.
Submission.
This is a word that's used
throughout the New Testament.
38 times this word,
submission,
is used throughout
the New Testament.
This is not a casual term.
This is not a term
that is to be thrown around.
This is a term
that God takes seriously.
23 times that Apostle Paul
will address submission
in his letters.
We all know that submission
is culturally unacceptable.
Right?
Even the word submission,
oh wow.
And in the first service today,
someone's like,
I can't believe you talked about that.
And in our culture,
the reason is because
we have a misunderstanding,
not only about what submission means,
but what submission does.
See, in our day and age,
when we think about submission,
we think about inequality.
We think about weakness.
We think about the opportunity
for abuse.
We think about that it suppresses
intelligence.
We think that it means
losing your freedom.
It means that you're denying
personal worth.
That you're conveying,
in some way,
control or domination.
But as early as our first parents,
Adam and Eve,
this was going to be
what would put strain
on relationships.
Sin would put strain
on relationships.
That which was natural
in the garden
becomes very unnatural,
as God will show us
in Genesis 3,
verse 16.
The woman,
because of her sin,
he says this,
To the woman,
I will multiply your pain
and childbearing.
In pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be contrary
to your husband,
but he shall rule over you.
You see,
now in marriage,
there is an element
of striving.
In marriage,
there is this element
of competition.
There is this element
of vying for power,
of wanting your way,
of fighting for your rights,
as it were.
But as we come to understand
submission in the Scripture,
we come to understand
that submission
is not relegated
to just a class of people.
Rather,
submission is meant
to be a quality
of spiritual life.
It's all-encompassing.
Not just for wives.
It is something
that every person
that loves God
is called to do.
If you are a Christian,
you are called
to submit in some way.
Let me give you
some examples.
The Apostle Peter
was writing this letter
to the church
that spread throughout Rome,
and he says in 1 Peter 2.13,
I'm just going to walk
down through these
because he kind of gives us
a course study
on submission.
He says,
Be subject,
for the Lord's sake,
to every human institution,
whether it be
to the emperor
as supreme
or to governors.
If you have a president,
if you have a governor,
if you have somebody
who is over you
in some way
in government,
you are called
to submit.
I am called
to submit.
It is a call
for all of us
in this room
who love Jesus
to submit
in this way.
Peter will move on
to servants
in chapter 2,
verse 18.
He says,
Servants,
be subject
to your masters
with all respect,
to the good and gentle,
to the harsh.
For to this
you have been called
because Christ
suffered for you,
leaving you an example
to walk in his steps.
And by the way,
if you've ever been
kind of fuzzy
on the will of God,
Peter will spell
it out for you.
Here is the will of God.
Submit.
Submit,
servants.
Submit,
slaves,
to your masters.
In chapter 3,
verse 1 of 1 Peter,
Likewise,
wives,
be subject
to your own husbands.
In 1 Peter 5,
verse 5,
Likewise,
you who are younger,
be subject
to the elders.
Clothe yourselves,
all of you,
with humility
towards one another,
for God opposes
the proud
but gives grace
to the humble.
Those who are
younger
are to submit
to those
who are the elders.
And I appreciate
how the New King James
translates this.
He says,
Yes,
all of you,
be submissive
to one another.
And be clothed
with humility.
For God resists
the proud
but gives grace
to the humble.
You fit in the category
of all of you
if you are a believer.
You are called
to submit.
And so this is
a universal command
of submission
for every one of us
who belong to Jesus
to submit in some way.
First,
to God
and then to the other
spheres
that God has
painted in our life.
And so
that Paul
commands wives
to be submissive
is a way for God
to demonstrate
his desire
for this portrait
of beauty
of Christ
to shine through.
Women,
you have a high calling.
It is a high calling.
You have been put in place
to set the example
of submission
for the rest of us.
It is a high calling
to submit
to your husbands
so that you can show
the rest of us
what submission
looks like.
To show the rest of us
what faith in God
looks like.
To show us
what it means
to paint this portrait
in faith.
This faith-filled submission
that points
the beauty
of who God is.
And so this gospel
life can shine
through you
and help inform
the rest of us
what it looks like
to trust God
in submission.
And so in this way
a wife's submission
reflects her confidence
in God.
That God is dependable.
That God is trustworthy.
And by the way
as we continue
to look through this
in Ephesians chapter 5
it talks about
Ephesians 5.22
it says
Wives,
submit to your own husbands
as to the Lord.
For the husband
is the head of his wife
even as Christ
is the head of the church
his body
and is himself
its savior.
Now as the church
submits to Christ
so also wives
should submit
in everything
to their husbands.
If you belong
to Christ's church
you must submit
yourself to Christ.
And wives
are the ones
who set the example
they set the course
of trust in God
and worship
of him
by painting this picture
this beautiful portrait
of submission
to Christ
and submission
to their husbands.
What I love about this
is Christ
is over the church.
So wives
here's the confidence
that you have.
As you submit
to your husband
you're submitting
to Christ
and Christ
is over
your husband.
And since Christ
is over your husband
you can trust
Christ
to make sure
that whatever
is happening
in your home
that seems
out of sync
that Christ
can put it
back together
and he can help
to set your husband
back in line.
You can trust
your Savior
as you are submitting
to your husband.
So what does
our defiance
say about God?
So we've talked
about submission
but when we
choose
not to submit
what does
our defiance
and not just
defiance of wives
but now generally
our defiance
to the submission
command that God
has given to us.
What does defiance
say about God?
What message
does it communicate?
Well there's several
here and I want
to go through
them quickly.
First our defiance
questions God's
wisdom.
In defiance
we question
the wisdom
of God.
In a sense
we are saying
God's way
is not best
mine is.
I don't trust you.
Whenever I disagree
with you
then obviously
you're wrong
and I'm right.
And in our
submission
our insubordination
we challenge
God's sovereignty.
His right
to declare
what should be.
Every structure
of God's authority
whether it's parents
or marriage
or government
or spiritual leaders
is a delegated
rule that God
has designated
to various
spheres of life
and to resist
the clear commands
of God
is to resist
God's authority.
Saying
I'll obey you
only when I
agree with you.
Now our demand
for rights
diminishes
also God's
grace.
You see
the gospel
is not
entitlement.
And for those
who have
experienced
God's grace
we should then
be conduits
of that grace.
I love how
the apostle Paul
puts it in
Romans 12
verse 1
when he says
I beseech you
by the mercies
of God
which is
I beg you
I plead
with you
on behalf
of the mercy
and the grace
that you've
experienced
now something
should be
true of your
life.
What is it?
Well present
your bodies
a living
sacrifice
holy
and acceptable
to God
which is
your reasonable
act of
worship.
Your obedience
to God
your submission
to God
your love
for God
it is
flows
out of the
mercy
that you've
received.
You see
these are not
merely social
issues
these are
theological
issues.
what you
believe
about God
shows up
in the way
you respond
to husbands
and wives
and other
authorities
in your life.
Rebellion
isn't just
behavior
it's belief
on display.
You show
through your
life what
you worship
what matters
to you.
So wives
what does
your response
to authority
say about
your trust
in God?
Do you
see your
loss
of control
as an
act of
worship
and dependence
on him?
Is he
worthy?
Is he
capable
to cover
and to help
when things
seem to be
out of
control?
Wives
you have
a high
calling.
You have
the calling
of putting
Jesus on
display
through
your
submission
and you
can set
the example
for the
rest of
us
what
that
looks
like.
Will
you
live
up
to
your
calling?
Will you
show
Jesus
that he's
worth it?
Submit
like Christ
have faith
filled
submission
that puts
Jesus
on display.
Husbands
we come
to you
next.
We see
this gospel
shaped
love
of husbands
in verse
19
it says
husbands
love your
wives
and do
not be
harsh
with
them.
Of
course
this word
for love
is a
common
word
it's a
familiar
word
to Bible
students
it's the
word
agape
it's the
word that
talks about
this
unconditional
love
this
covenant
love
this
unfailing
love
but really
particularly
this
divine
love
that we
get to
enjoy
because of
the love
of Christ.
What does
this love
look like?
How does
this love
show up?
The apostle
Paul
throughout
this letter
to the
Colossians
has used
this word
a number
of times
and we
get a sense
of what
he means
as we
read through
this epistle
Colossians
1
4
he says
since we
heard of
your faith
in Christ
Jesus
and the
love
that you
have
for all
the saints
I think
we're seeing
here the
selfless
love
we're seeing
this love
that reaches
out
this love
that's
indiscriminate
this love
that affects
all the saints
whoever they
are
the selfless
laying down
kind of love
that's
described
this love
for all
the saints
we also
see a
spirit
empowered
love
Colossians
1
verse 8
says
and has
made
known
to us
your
love
in
the
spirit
the only
way
we can
love
this way
is
by being
empowered
by the
spirit
of God
because
the fruit
of the
spirit
is
love
joy
peace
we
love
because
God
loves
he
first
loved
us
he set
the example
of what
that love
looks like
and he
doesn't
just call
us to
love
he has
enabled
us
to love
he doesn't
just give
us a
command
and he
doesn't
also
give us
the ability
to perform
it's also
a unifying
love
Colossians
chapter 2
verse 2
says
that in
their hearts
or that
their hearts
may be
encouraged
being knit
together
in love
they're joined
they're stitched
together
love
I love
how
the
apostle
Paul
puts
this
in
Ephesians
he says
endeavoring
to keep
the unity
of the
spirit
in the
bond
of peace
this
unifying
spirit
of love
and then
it's also
a harmonious
love
we see
that in
Colossians
chapter 3
verse 14
above all
these
put on
love
which binds
everything
together
in perfect
harmony
this harmonious
peace
pursuing
perfecting
kind of
love
it
makes us
who we're
not on
our own
it's
sanctifying
kind of
love
purifies
us
as we
come to
know
the love
of Christ
and follow
his example
in Ephesians
chapter 5
verses 25
to 27
the apostle
Paul develops
this thought
some more
describes it
for us
he says
husbands
love your
wives
as Christ
loved the
church
and gave
himself
up for
her
here we
see
self
sacrificing
kind
of
love
that
Jesus
spent
himself
to the
end
every
drop
every
ounce
of
blood
and
life
was
poured
out
for the
sake
of the
church
not just
to save
them
but we
see that
his purpose
was also
to sanctify
them
notice
that he
might
sanctify
her
having
himself
excuse me
having
cleansed
her
by the
washing
of the
water
with the
word
so that
he might
present
the
church
to
himself
in
splendor
without
spot
or wrinkle
or any
such thing
that she
might be
holy
and without
blamish
you see
this picture
again
this picture
of this
bride
this picture
of this
church
that's what
Christ
has in
mind
for his
church
that's what
husbands
should have
in mind
for their
brides
for their
wives
beauty
the beauty
of Christ
in drawing
out her
beauty
so she
looks more
like Jesus
men
do you love
your wife
like Christ
loved the
church
is your
love
the laying
down
kind of
love
the self
sacrificing
kind of
love
that you
see in
Christ
is your
love
the
beautifying
kind
of love
that you
look for
how you
might make
her
more
beautiful
more
spotless
more
blemish
free
it's not
a love
that tears
down
but a love
that builds
up
it's not
a love
that makes
demands
but delights
to serve
it's not
one that
takes
but a love
that gives
it's not
a love
that wounds
with words
but washes
with the
truth
it's not
a love
that controls
but a love
that cares
it's not
a love
that belittles
but a love
that blesses
or not
a love
that pulls
away
but a love
that draws
near
there's greater
intimacy
it's not
a love
that competes
but a love
that completes
not a love
that protects
his pride
but pursues
peace
it's not
a love
that reflects
the culture
but a love
that reflects
the cross. Do you have a gospel-shaped love? Husbands, what a high calling to continue to
fill out this picture of Christ. Three dimensions that we get to see about Christ, the submission
of wives, which fills out that part of the picture, the love of Christ that fills out that picture in
husbands. And now finally, we see the wholehearted obedience of children that kind of fills out that
picture of Christ, this wholehearted obedience of children and servants from Colossians chapter 3
verses 20 and 24. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Now verse 22, bond servants, 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. Fearing the Lord.
Worship is at the center of this command. In these verses, we come to see this portrait of obedience.
And the apostle Paul now transitions from submission and he moves to obedience. Children,
obey your parents. Servants, obey your parents. Servants, obey your masters in everything, the totality
of this command. This word for to obey is a compound word. It's to listen under. It's the word that carries
the idea of listening that results in action, not just hearing, but hearing with a responsive heart
to follow instructions, to not be mechanical, but to one who is willing and ready to do. It's this
picture of a heart kind of leaning in, interested in, and listening to what is, what they're being told.
In ancient culture, a servant would stand at the edge of the courtyard to listen intently to his
master's voice. If the master called, the master had something to say, instructions to give. He was
there to hear. It reminds me a little about growing up for me in Cedarville. And I was allowed to play in
the neighborhood. I was allowed to wander wherever I wanted. But there was one condition. When my dad
whistled, and he could whistle pretty loudly, when my dad whistled, that meant that I needed to say,
coming, at the top of my voice. And I needed to run as fast as my little legs could carry me
to make sure I was obeying the instruction, the call to come as fast as I could. Now, there were
those couple of occasions I can remember where my dad was with a friend, and he would kind of nudge,
nudge a guy that was his friend next to him and say, hey, watch this. And he would whistle,
and I would come. He's like, oh, hey, good, just checking. It was a good experience.
Experiment to see if obedience was on my heart. But there was never a time where I could have an
excuse to say, well, I didn't hear you. I didn't hear you whistle. I didn't hear you call. Because
that was my responsibility. As one who would respond, I was responsible not only to hear when the whistle
came, but to not to wander so far that I could not hear when it was sent. See, that's what obedience
looks like. Obedience is not waiting to be dragged back to the place where you're supposed to be.
It is staying close enough to hear the voice or the whistle of God. Disobedience doesn't just happen
when we say no. Disobedience happens when we wander so far from God that we cannot hear his voice.
He's calling. He's whistling. We don't respond. Maybe because you're not hearing. Maybe because your
heart is not attentive. Whatever it is, it's not just when you say no. It's when you have wandered so far
you can't hear the call or the whistle of God. Children, you are to obey your parents in everything.
Our obedience is to God first. And he is the object of our concern. Our devotion to him leads to
obedience to our parents. And of course, this obedience models itself after our Savior. We see in
Philippians chapter 2 verse 8. It says, and being found in human form, speaking of Jesus,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Notice
humility of Christ. Notice obedience of Christ. And of course, we know about the love of Christ. All of
these bound together. It's interesting that Paul tells children to obey parents. And I think this is
really crucial for us to understand. Parents, that's moms and dads. Moms and dads. It helps us to
understand the dignity that is inherent in women, okay? That children obey parents. Moms and dads.
Even when, kids, you think you know better. Even when you think they're wrong. Even when you think
they don't understand. Even when you think their commands are self-serving. Even when you're tired.
Even when you don't feel like they practice what they preach. Obey your parents in everything as to
the Lord. You make God, the gospel, look beautiful through your obedience to your parents. Obey in
everything. Does our obedience resemble our Savior? Is every yes to your parents mimic and resemble the
yes of Jesus to his Father? That's what we should be aiming at. How does our yes to our parents resemble
and mimic the yes of Jesus? Every time. Yes, yes, yes. The yes of Jesus to his Father? Paul transitions
to fathers in verse 21. He says, fathers, do not provoke your children lest they become discouraged.
And I'm inclined to think that this is not just, it's not a separate command. It's not stand alone
kind of command. I think that this command goes, it's sandwiched between obedience, the obedience of
children, and obedience of servants to masters. I think that's by design to help us understand this is
not a separate stand alone kind of command, but it's meant to accompany the previous command. So how are
children to be readily and willingly obedient to parents? Well, they do that because parents, and fathers in
particular, are removing whatever obstacles are in the way to provoke, to embitter, to set the
kids on edge. They are doing whatever they can to create this nurturing environment so obedience
comes easy or more easily. Fathers, do you stimulate obedience by the way you treat your children?
You make it easier for them to obey. Do you keep from provoking them? Do you keep from frustrating
them? Do you keep from embittering them? Instead, setting the environment to help stimulate and encourage
and support and to make them want to obey the Lord and to obey you. This word to provoke is to make
resentful. And in the Greco-Roman world, fathers held absolute authority. But God forbids that that kind of
harshness would stir up rebellion and resentment because of a heavy-handed approach. Fathers, don't
provoke your kids by being heavy-handed. But the opposite is also true. We can overcompensate for
being too harsh by being too lax. And that will frustrate your children as well. We find in Scripture
a model of perfect discipline and love from God Himself. Hebrews 12, 5 and 6 says this,
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the
discipline of the Lord, or be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves
and chastises every son whom He receives. Dads, discipline your children. Do it in love. Help to set the
guidelines, the parameters for how they can enjoy and experience the best that God has to offer them
through their obedience. This past week, I had a chance to invite my kids. Every single week,
we've been working through the study guide together, and there's a section that we put
conversation starters for kids. And this was my turn to listen. As we're working through this passage,
and I'm asking questions. Okay, kids, how do you answer this question? The question was this,
The Bible warns fathers not to discourage their children. What are some ways that dads,
and this particular dad, reassure his kids of his love for them? It was a good opportunity to listen.
It was a good opportunity to interact and to hear. We had conversations about clear communication,
setting realistic expectations, of asking good questions, and providing the answer why. Why is that
so important? Not just staking or stating what you want to happen, but helping to lead, especially your
older children, to understand the whys behind things. Providing loving instruction, serving together,
affirming the things that you see God doing in their life. All of these ways that dads can help
to create this environment where obedience becomes easier. That's the goal. If we want our kids to paint
this portrait of the gospel by obedience to parents, then we help make it as easy as we can.
Slaves, in Colossians 3, verse 22, bond servants obey in everything those who are your earthly masters,
not by way of eye service as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, pleasing the Lord, or fearing the Lord.
Paul addresses these bond servants. It's really the word doulos. It's the word slave.
In the New Testament culture. And the Apostle Paul will address these bond servants again in Ephesians
chapter 6, verses 5 to 8. But I want to just draw your attention to the concluding statement back there
in verse 8. It says,
Knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord,
whether he is a bond servant or free.
So this isn't, you're not off the hook, just because you're not a slave.
You're free. And so as one who is serving under a master, serving under an employer,
serving under a boss or a manager, you have this responsibility to carry out obedience in this way.
And Paul gives several reasons. But the predominant one here is, first, you are serving the Lord.
Your service is as to Him. Your work is as to Him.
And while your boss may be the immediate individual that you are trying to appease,
really your primary minister, your primary work is to the Lord, to God.
Maybe the objection would be, well, my boss doesn't notice my work.
And God, or the Apostle Paul will say, well, you're not working to be noticed.
You're not working, as he says in Colossians 3.22, not with eye service as people pleasers.
Do your work to the Lord.
And to work heartily as to the Lord and not to men.
Again, the Apostle Paul directs attention to the will of God.
The will of God.
Ephesians 6.6, not with eye service as men pleasers, but as bond servants of Christ,
doing the will of God from the heart.
Do you want to know what God's will is?
This is one of the many instances where it's very clear, crystal clear.
Do your work with all your heart.
Well, what does it mean to do your work with all your heart?
It's to understand that the work that we do is a work to Christ.
It's a work that he will inevitably and ultimately reward.
It's serving with joy, not with duty.
It's giving your full attention, not half-hearted in your labors.
It's bringing energy and excellence and faithfulness to every task.
It's doing your best when no one is watching.
It's recognizing that your work is worship.
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for work is also the word for worship.
We'll talk about that a little bit more next year, the beginning of the year.
Your work is a way that you worship God.
God cares about your work because God cares about your worship.
And how we work reflects what we believe about God.
You see, we have this promise.
It's also built in.
1 Corinthians 15, 58 says,
Your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
And that's the promise.
When we're working for the Lord,
our labors will not be expended in vanity.
That the Lord himself will ensure that your labors are spent well.
His purposes are accomplished.
Finally, we see Christ-honoring leadership of masters.
Christ-honoring leadership of masters in Colossians 4, 4, it says this,
Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly,
knowing that you also have a master in heaven.
Masters, employers, bosses, you are not off the hook.
Because there's accountability for you by the supreme master, God himself.
And the work that we do is under the accountability,
under the microscope, as it were, of God himself,
who evaluates and who will reward accordingly.
Those who are bosses have masters too.
And so masters are not to use their position to threaten.
They're not to intimidate.
They're not to bully.
They're not to set unrealistic, unreasonable expectations.
Because God will ultimately judge every master.
Peter provides a really helpful picture.
And I'm just going to close with this.
This picture of leadership and accountability
underneath the great leader, God himself,
who does promise to reward.
We see this in 1 Peter 5, verses 1-4.
It says this,
So I exhort the elders among you,
as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ,
as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed,
shepherd the flock of God that is among you,
exercising oversight,
not under compulsion, but willingly,
as God would have you,
not for shameful gain, but eagerly,
not domineering over those in your charge,
but being examples to the flock.
And when the chief shepherd appears,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
You hear it?
Godly leadership.
Godly kind of accountability.
Understanding that they are under the great shepherd.
Understanding that there is a reward for those who lead well.
What a picture God has offered to us in these verses.
This picture of submission and the gospel of Christ shining through wives.
This picture of love that is shining through husbands
and pointing people to the beauty of Christ.
This picture of obedience.
Gospel picture of kids and teens
who are following after and obeying the directions of their parents.
Spotlighting and drawing attention to the wonder of Christ in his gospel.
For leaders,
we need to ask ourselves the question,
if Jesus evaluated our leadership,
what would he say?
Are we leading with eternity in view
or are we only thinking about the bottom line?
So may our work be worship.
May our labor be love
and may our reward be Christ.
Let's pray.
Oh God, we thank you for your word.
Thank you for the example that you set in Christ.
The example of submission.
The example of love.
The preeminent example of obedience.
God, may that gospel picture shine through our lives.
And may trust in God
and worship of you
lead our heart to do this faithfully.
We pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
God bless you.
Have a great week.
Amen.