Moments in the life of a Pastor

Colossians 3:18-4:1 

¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. ²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ²⁵ Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. 4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Paul has taught us about living in the power of the new life where we put off the past and put on God’s provision. The Christian life is not about removing but replacing, it’s not about rules but relationship. Transformation comes from spending time with and trusting God. Often when people read this passage of scripture they end up getting mad but before we dismiss it let’s look at what Paul is really saying. Our faith must follow us, the true test of our relationship with Christ is how we relate to others. Real transformation with Jesus will translate into our relationships. Often when we read these verses we see ruling not relationship, Wife submit, Children obey, slave serve! But there are 2 things we must remember about God’s call prior to these commands 

1. Remember your POSITION in Christ, we are “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.” Position should provide a positive impact in people’s lives. Relationships reveal our position in Christ or our pursuit of power. 

2. Remember God’s PROVISION – If God’s clothes are clinging to us then that is what we carry into our relationships, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love. God’s garments reveal grace and good. Relationships reveal God’s provision or our poison! 

 Jesus is referred to as “Lord” or “Master” seven times in these verses, His lordship is expressed in the day-by-day, routine relationships of life. If Jesus is supreme in your life, then it will show in how you relate to others. Notice the relationships that Paul starts with, family, because our faith must come home with us. The first institution that God founded was family, and today it is under fire. So home must be the first place we test our newness in Christ.

Colossians 3:10-17

¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

• PRIORITES Of the new life

Paul concludes a look at the new life by giving three priorities for our heart. Christ’s followers who have put on the Fathers provision are not focused on disputing everything or controlling everything. They are concerned with the peace of Christ, the word of Christ, and the name of Christ. 

1. Peace of Christ

Letting His peace rule in your hearts, what rules your heart? What determines what you do & how you will act in life? We say that we want peace in our lives yet we won’t give control to Christ. Paul brings it back to who is on the throne self or the Savior? 

• Word of Christ

Let the message of Christ fill your life, what is filling you up, the word or the world? Some versions say let the word dwell in you richly.  Paul is saying that the Word should take up residence and be at home in our lives. There is a difference between a guest and someone who dwells in a home. A guest comes and goes according to what is convenient for him and for his host, a dweller remains regardless of the circumstances.

• Name of Christ

Whatever you do or say do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, whether in the church or in the world, for there is no sacred-secular split in God’s eyes for He is Sovereign over all. The simplest, most basic rule of thumb for living the Christian life is to do everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus whether by lip or life

• PATTERN Of the new life Vs 15-17

We are to live with a thankful spirit, 3 times in 3 verses Paul tells us to be thankful. Do you have an attitude of gratitude or grumbling?