Scripture:
“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.” (Ephesians 6:4-9 ESV)
Observation:
When Paul gives instructions he segments a lot. Fathers: do this; Bondservants, that; Masters, Husbands, Wives, Children, Church, Leaders…—he addresses all of them specifically and sometimes with curiously intersecting directions. …
Application:
I think reading the passage above there is an overriding principle that I struggle to remember: “…knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven…” I think that all of the stuff I am reading about other people should have a halo over my thoughts that say “I serve the same Master in Heaven as they do; I am a sinner saved by His Grace and need a Savior everyday…just like they do.” I know I shouldn’t read the scriptures about somebody else (“Hah—Amen, Lord—that’s just what Danny needs to hear…”) but let’s face it: it happens way too often. It takes practice to address the guy in the mirror first and especially when I am expected to exert any kind of leadership. I am a father and grandfather: Do I provoke my children to anger? It isn’t that they should not be angry at me but am I PROVOKING it? I am an employee of a company: Am I serving the Company in the fear of God or am I a man-pleaser? Probably a good bit of both—gotta work on that. The inter-connectedness of the Scriptures (perspicuity) rings out especially from Gal 5 and the fruit (evidence) of living a life unto Christ. The point that I take away today is two-fold: Don’t sit in condemning judgment over another because Christ died for them just like me—if it wasn’t for the Blood, I more than deserve the Wrath of God against my sin, and; …I have to work at this stuff, pay attention to it…every day. After all, that is why I hammer “review the Gospel everyday” because I forget or take it for granted…. Oh, yeah: Don’t shirk leadership. Just remember who is really Master…
Prayer:
Father, I am so grateful that Your Word is living and active. It dances and sings. It is both somber and has hilarious rejoicing all at the same time. When I review the Gospel I have to stop and be amazed at the intricacy of your Plan—everything around, even the End of Days is a part of the Gospel. And this passage—chock full of the redemptive Gospel. Why do you pay such attention to my life? This is a mystery; a profound and glorious mystery to ponder for the rest of my days. Please make my heart soft so that Your Word takes firm root…