Paul now brings into our view the family unit, as it increases, as all healthy families are too. Provided they remain as planed and constructed in the beginning, By our Creator. Which allows family growth in our spiritual reality as we learn of the Cross and Christ. We as his healthy body should produce his offspring in much the same fashion. The first is within our own household, the next is by our bearing his life incarnate in us, as we witness to those of this worlds order, his presences as the Word within us. Now if you have not noticed I have by his design already included the fact that we in our every day activities to share with our business partners, associates, employees, friends, neighbors and relatives his life as us, in us. The topics of the next two witnesses spoken of by Paul, before he deals with spiritual warfare's needs. Spiritual warfare that confronts us all daily by the opposition to the Cross's and Christ's revelation.
Ephesians 6:1-4, 5-9 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16 is quoted here) "Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him." (KJV)
Ephesians 6:1-4, 5-9 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16 is quoted here) "Honor your father and mother," (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him." (ESV)
Ephesians 6:1-4, 5-9 "(This mutual yielding to one another continues in every social level and relationship we engage in and extends the attraction of the Christ-likeness of his life in us, beginning at home, cradled in the warm embrace of loving parents;) the way children respond to their parents gives evidence to their righteousness of the LORD in them. (In essence the term righteousness speaks of two esteeming qualities we posses in his likeness in one another.) The first commandment that includes an immediate and long term incentive is in reference to children honoring their father and mother, as their foster source of being. Both quality and duration of life on earth is impacted by the way children relate to their parents (Length of life is meaningless outside of closeness in this vital relationship.) Fathers, your role is not to exasperate your children (by giving them burdens and tasks two heavy to bear). You are rather to awaken their heart minds in an environment conducive to drawing on every virtue that is within them in the LORD.
The next level of relationships equally implicates inclusions of our heart attitude of a slave towards their owners; because of our devotion to Christ, we are now able to give our boss, and the reciprocal is also true, the same undivided, sincere respect and devotion. (Remember we are talking practical church; the Christ-life celebrates love's initiative in transforming society! A truth and fact often overlooked or totally missed.) This not a matter trying to put up a front or veneer in order to impress our boss; we are in essence slaves of Christ, addicted to the desire of GOD to find expression in you/us; now our slave life becomes the Christ life. (The so-called "low life" now mirrors the highest life style, as servants of all.) However menial the task, put your heart and restored mind-set into it as you would to the LORD; he is our real boss, no-one else. It is a well known fact that it is impossible for good deeds to go unnoticed. It makes no difference whether someone is free or a slave; every single good deed equally enjoys the favorable attention of the LORD. (We already enjoy GODS favorable attention before we have done anything to deserve it. Our good works are now an expression of that and not an attempt to win his approval!) If you're boss, love's initiative applies to you on exactly the same terms; the way you treat your slaves with respect rather than threats, even when they do stupid things clears the air immediately. Take it from your heavenly Father and your Master; he does not judge people or circumstances on face value." (The Mirror)
Our next visit we are scheduled to look into the warfare of darkness and light as described on Revelation as we are indeed in those every days. Until then may the LORD our GOD help you and yours to learn of him even more from what is shared herein.
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