salvation

The Grace of God Changes Our Relationships: Eph. 6:1-9

/ Neal Embry

Last week, we talked about how the grace of God changes our marriages. This week, we examine more of how God’s grace changes other relationships in our lives.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 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.”–6:1-4

Peace in the home creates more opportunity for holiness and godliness, whereas strife and fighting tends to lead to more and more sin. When we understand that God has treated us with grace in Christ, and that we now have peace with God, we will seek to be people of peace.

Children in Christ ought to obey their parents because God has become their heavenly Father, and in showing honor to earthly parents, they show honor to God. All people are then called to “honor” their father and mother.

But what if my parents aren’t Christian? Paul doesn’t seem to clarify and give exception. He simply says to obey your parents, and to honor your father and mother. Now, Jesus makes it clear you cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). So obedience to God must come first. But unless that obedience is threatened, one of the best ways a Christian youth can glorify Christ and point their parents to Christ is to obey them, regardless of whether or not they know Jesus.

But there’s a second part to this: Fathers ought to bring their children up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” and not provoke them to anger.

Some of the most controversial videos posted on social media over the past few years have been those of parents shaving their kids hair, or something similar, as “punishment.” Some people think this is acceptable, because it teaches their kids “accountability.”

Instead, I believe this “provokes” your kids to be angry. That’s not the discipline and instruction of the Lord, that is shaming your children on social media, which is not the same.

Just as our heavenly Father disciplines us, so we are to discipline our children. It is never out of anger, but out of love. It is out of a desire to see our children grow to trust and love God.

And in the same way our Father assures us of His love, so we are to assure our children of our love by providing them, telling them, and prioritizing their needs over ours.

I experienced the discipline of the Lord from my mother and grandparents, who taught me the love of God, as well as what the Christian life should look like. Because of that, when I became a Christian, I was better prepared to live the Christian life.

The goal of the Christian home is for children to reflect the grace of God by honoring parents as we honor God as Father and for parents to raise children who know the grace of God expressed in love and discipline.

“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.”–6:5-9

Slavery existed in some form in biblical times. Bondservants were able to buy their freedom and typically had a better life than slaves in 19th-century America. However, they weren’t always treated well, hence the need for Paul’s admonition to Christian slave-owners. There is no condoning of slavery, but there is truth to be found in this passage as to how we treat those in authority over us.

Our “earthly masters” today may be bosses or school teachers, or even the government. The same principle from the first part of this passage applies: No authority can supersede that of the Lord’s authority, but up until that happens, we are to honor God by honoring others.

And this is not meant to be done with rolling eyes and an insincere heart—we are to truly serve others. The Christian life is meant to be genuine, not faked.

In the same way, masters, those with authority, ought to treat their employees as they would the Lord, with respect and humility. Christian bosses should treat their “lowest” employees like the CEO, because though we had earned nothing before God, He called us to be His children at the cost of His Son. We can only reflect that grace.

When grace permeates our relationships, pride, anger, and strife ceases, and gives way to grace, humility, and selflessness. May God give us more of His grace.

Lord, may we always treat others with the grace you show us. May we seek to treat our parents, children, bosses and employees with that grace. May we live all of our lives for your glory.

God bless,

Neal E.

The Grace of God Makes Us Obedient (part 2): Ephesians 5:15-20

/ Neal Embry

I usually separate Sunday and Wednesday posts, but this week, I couldn’t fit everything from Ephesians into Sunday’s post, so I’ll do that here. I lost track of my days, and so now, it’s Wednesday Wisdom on Thursdays. My apologies. If you haven’t read Sunday’s post, go back and do that before reading this.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”–5:15-16

Paul has just described how the church is called to be obedient because of God’s grace, as they seek to imitate Christ. He’s talked about how the church is “light,” and how as Christians, we are to call others into the “light” of Christ.

So what could keep the church from accomplishing God’s mission of disciple-making and holy living? The same thing that keeps many people from accomplishing their goals: laziness and foolish living.

You don’t have to do a whole lot to understand what Paul is saying in verses 15 and 16: Times are evil. People are evil (look back at verses 5 and 6). The gospel must go forward. Don’t waste time.

But yet, wasting time is so easy. This is a really hard verse for me to read, because I’m really good at wasting time. Whether it be Netflix, Facebook or some other form of entertainment, I’m really good at procrastinating. I don’t accomplish as much as I want to, in any area of my life, at times because of it. It is one of the sins I’m struggling to put off, but by God’s grace I will grow in.

So how do we not waste the time?

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing, and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”–5:17-20

First, don’t be foolish. Simply put, grow up, be mature follow the will of God. That means getting a job that betters the world, getting into the Word every day, praying for not just your needs but others, and seeking to be more and more like Jesus everyday as you live to make Him known, whether in the ministry or in the secular world (or in both, for my many bi-vocational friends).

What it means to be serious is that for those aspects of our lives that make a difference, whether in this world and most definitely in eternity, we are “sober-minded.” We are ready to roll up our sleeves and do whatever is necessary to fulfill our God-given roles on this Earth. It means always being ready to do and to be whatever God has called you to do and to be.

Next, be filled with the Spirit. We have the Spirit if we are in Christ, but Paul commands the church to walk by the Spirit. The Spirit leads and guides us, and if we are controlled by something other than the Spirit, wine, in this example, we cannot follow the will of God and make the best use of time.

While drinking alcohol is certainly not sinful, it is sinful to allow alcohol, or anything else, to rule over us, as Jesus alone is our Lord. Alcohol presents different complications than the possible idols of food and sports because of its ability to control us and inhibit our ability to think, function and follow Christ if we drink too much. I won’t ever tell anyone of a legal drinking age what to do in this area, but it requires cautious behavior on the part of the Christian who chooses to drink alcohol, because we are set apart, called to live differently than the world. That means if and when we drink, we do so with thankfulness to God and with a mind set, not on being drunk, but on, as in all things, honoring Him.

We also make the best use of time when we worship the Lord with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul says those who are filled with the Spirit address each other in worship. We are so grateful for what Christ has done and is doing in our lives, we cannot but speak of Him. While I enjoy my church family back in Birmingham, and will love my church family here in Arkansas, for many different reasons, ultimately, I love them because they are fellow followers of Jesus. I would not identify with them otherwise. We are brought together by Christ, and that commonality of faith, of struggle, of worship, is what binds us together.

Lastly, we make the best use of time when we are thanking God. Paul told the church thankfulness keeps us from sexual immorality, something discussed Sunday. Thankfulness keeps us from sexual immorality and other sins because it focuses our minds and our hearts on God. Likewise, when we are focused on God, we will not be so lazy with our time. We will remember Him, and we will seek to honor Him in all we do.

Lord, may we make the best use of time. May we repent when we fail, and may we always seek to do your will.

God bless,

Neal E.