Live.Awake

We finished Colossians this week! I for one have gotten a lot out of the series as I’ve studied and taught it. This final installment gets really practical. It’s as if Paul has stopped arguing his points regarding the supremacy of Christ and assumes the we are convinced. Because in the final two chapters he begins to explain what the Christian life should look like (and shouldn’t look like), bearing in mind that Christ is supreme, we are raised with Him, and unified with Him.

This is where the rubber meets the road with this book. It steps out of philosophical debate and defense of ideas and principles. Paul brings all that he has said previously to bear on our character and lifestyle.

Here are the highlights…

Are You Putting Me On?

Colossians 3:12-17 [+/-]Colossians 3:12-17 [12]Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, [13]bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [14]And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15]And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. [16]Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. [17]And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ESV) gives us a list of things to “put on” in contrast to the previous verses where Paul tells us to “put off” sin. Now he is giving us a positive command. Notice that the things he mentions here are important only within the context of relationships.

• compassion
• kindness
• humility
• gentleness
• patience
• mercy
• forgiveness
• peace
• love

All of these only have meaning if they are done within the context of relationship. A hermit on an island by himself cannot have mercy. To whom will he be merciful? Note also that most of these virtues are only needed when someone has done wrong to us. The fruit of our relationship with Christ (or lack thereof) will be revealed in how we treat other people, especially when other people treat us poorly. Don’t you find it easy to be Christ-like when everyone is being nice to you? It’s not so easy when we are being misunderstood, overlooked, or mistreated. However, it is in those moments that the righteousness of Christ in us can shine the brightest.

Christ in Us at Home and at Work

Colossians 3:18-4 [+/-]Colossians 3:18-4:18 [18]Wives, submit 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 provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. [22]Slaves, 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. [23]Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, [24]knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. [25]For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. [4:1]Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. [2]Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. [3]At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison-- [4]that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. [5]Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. [6]Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. [7]Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. [8]I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, [9]and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. [10]Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions--if he comes to you, welcome him), [11]and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. [12]Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. [13]For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. [14]Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. [15]Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. [16]And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. [17]And say to Archippus, "See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord." [18]I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. (ESV):1 provides us with a nice framework for how God intends our homes and workplaces to function. Notice that he addresses both sides of each relationship: wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and owners.

1. Wives submit to your husbands — this is a touchy subject isn’t it! I believe the reason it is such a inflammatory topic is that we import the world’s twisted view of authority, leadership, and submission into the scripture. The word “submit” here is a military term having to do with lines of authority and leadership. It has nothing to do with value or even competence. This does not mean the wife cannot have opinions and voice them. This does not mean that a woman must submit herself to abuse. This does not mean that a woman is of less value to God than a man. Nor does it mean that a woman must be silent while her husband makes foolish decisions. It simply means that she must let him lead. Help him lead. Even when he is acting like a knucklehead she must find a way to give him respect.
2. Husbands love your wives — Godly leadership leads from the bottom up. Jesus washed the disciples feet. So should men lead their families by serving them. A woman who knows she is loved by her husband will have no problem letting him lead her. A man who is a jerk or is passive will make it exceedingly difficult for his wife to respect him. Men, if our wives do not respect us it is because we are not doing anything worthy of respect! If our wives will not follow where we lead, it’s OUR FAULT!
3. Children obey your parents — note that it says there that this is how children can please God. The reverse of this is that if our children do not obey us, they cannot please God. If we as parents want God to be pleased with our children, we must insist on their obedience!
4. Fathers do not provoke — we can provoke our children by using harsh, unpredictable, irradic, angry or negligent discipline. Our kids should know they are about to get spanked before we say a word. It should be that consistent! We must find a way to confront (and break) their iniquitous will without wounding their spirit. This is our task as parents. If we wound their spirits and fail to break their selfish will then they will not grow up following the will of God but rather they will follow their own will until God confronts them. The last thing any Godly parent wants is to see their children wait to bend their knee before God until they are standing at hell’s gate and it’s too late. Eternity is in the balance every time we insist in obedience.
5. Slaves obey your masters — a valid modern-day application of this text would be the employee-employer relationship. The point here is that we do not work to please a boss, but rather to please God Himself. This changes everything! It changes when we show up to work, when we leave and what we do with our time inbetween. If we mistreat our boss, God takes it very personally!
6. Masters be fair and just — God also takes it very personally when bosses mistreat their employees. This scripture has given me great comfort over the years when I have been treated unjustly by an employer. If a boss will treat his employees as though he is doing it to honor God, then he will act very differently. Christians should be known as the best workers and the best bosses! Is that the case now?

Final Thoughts on Colossians

It all goes back to Colossians 1:15-20 [+/-]Colossians 1:15-20 [15]He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [16]For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. [17]And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18]And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. [19]For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, [20]and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (ESV). Christ is supreme in all things. He is our supply. He is our King, our God and our Lord. He is all we need. He is more than we need. He is our righteousness. He is our authority. We owe Him everything yet we can never repay Him.

When we get a hold on this idea in our hearts, then everything changes. How we live and what we live for gets radically transformed. And it is this revelation that will ultimately change the world. When we begin to display the real, supreme Jesus to the lost, they will be compelled to look more closely. When we live our lives as reflections of His majesty, the world won’t be able to look away.

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