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
Culpability
Frances Taylor
This is an interesting passage because, among other things, it talks about sin and who is considered guilty of sin. Paul is talking about how he has been forgiven, how God has been merciful to him because his actions were committed in unbelief. In order for sin to be committed, one needs to know he is committing it. No one can commit sin in retrospect. Sin is always a deliberate act. This can be hard for some to understand. Actions can be considered sinful, even though the person committing them may not be culpable. For example, lying is a sin. However, is the two year old hiding behind the curtains sinning when he or she claims not to have broken the vase? No, because the child has no understanding of the difference between truth and lie. Those who do not have a relationship with God, who do not know the commandments, who have never heard of Jesus, may commit sinful actions, but are not guilty of sin. This is what Paul claims is his situation. Paul ...
Morning Prayer
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ) full of grace and truth.
Inspiration
When the Lord sent his only Son, he sent also his word. For his body was this very word made flesh. Importantly this was not simply a manifestation of God's word, but also rather an 'animation' of it (meant here in the original Latin as 'animare' –'to instill with life or spirit'), an instance of God's love and divine grace in action, among us.
Prayer
Lord, I am grateful for your mercy in showing us your word made flesh so that we may be redeemed. Further, I am grateful to you for showing us your love and grace through your only begotten son. Let his body not have been torn and broken for no avail, but feed us now in the Eucharist. Let not his blood have...
