AM Sept 26th Col 3

September 26^th How to treat others

18: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19: Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20: Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21: Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 22: Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24: Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25: But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Paul is bringing his letter to a close and he now applies his teaching to the believers in the various stations in life in which God has placed them. First he says to wives be in submission to you own husbands because this is appropriate as believers. Husbands are to love your own wives (that is to put them first in everything even before themselves) and not to hold any bitterness in their hearts toward them. Children are to obey their parents in everything because this pleases God. Fathers are to be kind to their children and to not cause them to be angry. Slaves are to be obedient in everything in the flesh. Not only working when they are seen so as to suck up to their master but they are to service faithfully in reverence to the Lord. And that are to do everything with a full heart as if they are serving the Lord and not a master. And they are to serve knowing that the Lord will reward them in the kingdom because in serving their master they are serving the Lord. Those servants that are disobedient will receive punishment for their wrong doing from the Lord. God deals with all men completely fairly. Those who lived as Paul instructs them finds that peace reigns in the home.