Devotion
Loving One Another
Chipo Biti
These verses serve as instructions on how we are to interact with one another within the body of the Christ.
At the end of the day, the main goal is for all of us to live in harmony with one another, united in our love for God and one another. Paul includes guidance for different types of relationships, assisting the Colossians (and us) with how we should treat one another.
Wives are to submit to their husbands, loving them wholly, as they would love God and husbands are commanded to do the same. Paul adds that they are not to be bitter or angry towards them in any way - the same way that Christ is loving towards us. There is balance within the marriage when it comes to love and respect. Unfortunately, some people have twisted this verse and similar verses to mean a completely different thing.
Children are instructed to love and obey their parents, honoring them in all they do while parents are encouraged to love their children and to avoid provoking them to anger. Once again, we see this balance in parent-child relationships. There is often much emphasis on how children should be towards their parents, without much being said as to how parents should be with their children. As Christians we should know that we are to love our children as God loves us.
Prayer
Servants - people who are employed - were encouraged to be loyal to their masters. In this age we live in, we can apply this to our lives at work. We should be loving towards our bosses, taking our work seriously and not just to gain favor in their eyes. The sincerity in our work will speak far greater things than any eye service that we attempt to do.
Overall, we should know that to love one another is a great thing to do in the Lord. God encourages it greatly and He will reward His children who follow his instructions.
There is nothing to be gained from trying to wrong the people around us. It will only create strife.
We should desire to love everyone around us, not just because we have been told to but, because of the love that God has first shown us.
Devotion
We will Do It
Why do you obey
Frances Taylor
Moses came down from the mountain and told the people what the Lord had commanded. They all said, Okay! No problem! As we shall see in a few days, that didn't last long. The Israelites said yes over and over to God, and then said, no, over and over again. So much like us! It's a good thing God forgives us over and over again. It is always interesting to read the full account of the commandments and their amplified meaning in Exodus, because it gives an idea of what the civilization was like in those days. The commandments were not all totally new as many of them were based on the code of Hammurabi. The first three commandments were new as they listed the proper behavior towards God. The other seven concerned social behavior and social structure. So, what's the difference between Hammurabi's code and the Ten Commandments other than the first three? The difference is in the why. We don't obey the commandments because they promote civility...
Morning Prayer
Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
Inspiration
Our mouths may be filled with all sorts; idle chatter, gossip, news, profanities or slander. Yet it would be best of all to fill it with praise and love. God gave us our voices to not only communicate, but to choose our words wisely. Don't use it to injure or babble, but to spread his gospel and praise.
Prayer
Lord Almighty I exalt your name on earth as in Heaven. Grant me the wisdom and the will to spread your name and deeds, to use my voice for beauty and truth rather than lies and disparagement. Grant me this Lord, in your holy name I pray, Amen.
