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.