Friday – July 29, 2016
It is Friday so quickly. Greetings from The Three Minute Word Ministries and a prayer that Grace and peace be multiplied in your lives as you increase in the knowledge of God. It is time to not only receive of the Word of God and be changed more and more into His image by that but it is time to pray for the Church in the United States and for our friends to the north in Quebec, Canada. The building pictured is St. Patrick’s Church located in Quebec City and founded in 1832. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) We don’t pray ONLY for those that look, act, and believe exactly like us but all that proclaim Jesus as the Son of God and name Him as their Lord and Savior.
Colossians 3:23-25 (KJV)
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.
We can all breathe a sigh of relief as I finish up on the section of Scripture dealing with submission. Involuntary submission has nothing to do with God and His interactions with human beings. We are free-will creations and we submit by choice which is one aspect of expressing love to another human being and to our God. “Our God” is not one among many but the ONLY living God (capital G) There are many gods like women, men, cars, sports, our jobs, another ideology like Islam or Hinduism, and so on but only one God. Our text above starts off with “And whatsoever ye do,” I think we all recognize that pretty much covers the waterfront (everything). If we are doing something (anything) and we don’t think the Lord would be pleased we should stop. I think most of us have things we do for the Lord and then there is everything else in our lives. I am not sure that I see in Scripture a space for that “everything else” category.
Next we come to the command to do whatever we are doing heartily and that is in the context of “as to the Lord”. Let’s take a look at this in a different Bible Translation.
Colossians 3:23 (HCSB)
23 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men,
Perhaps we have or have had people in your life, home, family, work, or Church, which do not cause a spontaneous surge of enthusiasm except perhaps an enthusiasm to get away from them and or bring to mind various negative explicates to express our true feelings. Now don’t act all holy like you have no idea what I am talking about. This is something that I suspect we are all guilty of and should repent even as we read this. The word ‘heartily’ can mean: energetically, emphatically, wholeheartedly, vigorously, with gusto, and completely. And we are to do it as if the Lord Himself was standing there visibly asking or giving the same command. Remember we are talking about a legal (according to God) request or command. For example today in America it is legal for a hospital or other entity to ask or command a doctor to do an abortion but it is not legal in the eyes of God and therefore the doctor is under no obligation in the sight of God to obey or comply. Now there may be significant consequences in the natural realm and here is where faith in God, and love of God come into this natural realm and are not just abstract concepts to shout and holler about in Church. We must believe God on the level of an unshakeable confidence that He will either take care of that specific situation or that He will make another way. In our obedience our submission to His will we will not suffer loss but gain, in Jesus name.
Colossians 3:23 (HCSB)
23 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, (underline added)
Yes, Joe Blow or Suzy Q (factious names) may be asking in the natural realm but we need respond as if it is an order from the Lord and do it with excellence. Do not get me wrong, we want to do the very best job we can for whomever is asking or commanding but beyond and above that we want the Lord to look at the job and say “well done good and faithful servant”. Our everlasting reward is not of men but of God.
Colossians 3:24 (HCSB)
24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.
Saints of God we are on assignment from Heaven in the earth. We are Ambassadors, representatives of God, and we need to do His will with excellence. Our God does not just slap our backs with an “atta boy” but adds to us in a tangible way in this life and in the one to come. That is to say there will be a paycheck in this life, and there will be treasure in Heaven as well.
Colossians 3:25 (ESV)
25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
The Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Paul is not talking to the world, the unsaved, but to the Church, you and me. The wrongdoer here is us and He (The Holy Spirit) is saying that when we do wrong we will reap a harvest from that just as we do in our obedience. When we are disobedient before God the accuser (devil) is able to get a judgment against us from God which will bring stealing, killing, and destruction into our lives. There is no partiality, God does not reward obedience (love) and wink or overlook disobedience (hate).
By Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
