So I fell off the wagon. Got too busy, too tired, too distracted....you name it, and I neglected my Quiet Time with God. You know, it happens to all of us at one time or another, or many times for that matter. Not making excuses, just stating the obvious. Doesn't make it right, but it happens.
I think it was the devil, Uncle something or other, (can't remember his name) in the Screwtape Letters that instructed his demons to try to distract their subjects because this would make them forget about God and the purpose He put them here for. I think C.S. Lewis got it right. Distraction really does work well in the hand of the enemy.
So I woke up at 4:30am today. Tried to go back to sleep but it didn't work. Messed around on my iPod for a bit hoping it would tire me out so I could sleep. Didn't work. So decided to just get up. Maybe I am supposed to use this time to spend time with God and writing my thoughts out for all of you about what I read in the Bible.
My Quiet Time:
I think it was the devil, Uncle something or other, (can't remember his name) in the Screwtape Letters that instructed his demons to try to distract their subjects because this would make them forget about God and the purpose He put them here for. I think C.S. Lewis got it right. Distraction really does work well in the hand of the enemy.
So I woke up at 4:30am today. Tried to go back to sleep but it didn't work. Messed around on my iPod for a bit hoping it would tire me out so I could sleep. Didn't work. So decided to just get up. Maybe I am supposed to use this time to spend time with God and writing my thoughts out for all of you about what I read in the Bible.
My Quiet Time:
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. (Colossians 3:18-25 KJV)
This whole section in Colossians 3 has to do with personal relationships in the family and employer/employee relationships...well, back in that time, it was probably more slave/slave master relationships. But since we do not have slaves, it is applicable to the employer/employee relationship today.
Many women's lib types chafe when they see verse 18. They think it somehow means that women are less valuable than men. It doesn't mean that at all. It's just that there needs to be some sort of order with in the family. If everyone is trying to be the boss then confusion is going to reign within the home. It doesn't mean that the wishes and opinions of the wife are less valued. If the husband is loving his wife as he ought, he will take into consideration her thoughts and opinions on a matter and between the two of them they will come up with a workable solution, but the wife should be able to trust that her husband will make a wise final decision.
Children are to be obedient to the parents. They are not the decision makers in the family. Far too many families let the children's wishes rule and mom and dad are worn out jumping when the children say frog.
I always thought it was interesting that God saw fit to put the verse in about fathers not provoking their children to anger and causing them to be discouraged. Why was this needed? In my observation, I've noticed a lot of fathers who are either too hard on their kids or they are too passive with them.
A father that is too hard on the children demands so much and expects so much of them that if they don't attain it he berates them for it. The children become angry with the unreasonable demands and get discouraged because they don't think they can do anything right.
A father that is too soft on the kids or not involved with them, causes them anger because they begin to think their father doesn't really care about them enough to teach them anything or spend time with them. They become discouraged wondering if they are truly loved. They throw up their hands and figure it's no use to try to impress him because he doesn't seem to really care.
The verse about servants and masters is applicable to day to the employer/employee relationship. There is a great temptation to do one's job well when the boss is looking and to slack off when the boss is not watching. This would be one definition of men-pleasers. Another definition would be doing your work well just so you will be recognized and patted on the back by the boss for a job well done. Either motivation is not what the Apostle Paul has in mind. He says we should do our work with the single purpose for the Lord, keeping the fear of God before our eyes.
How would the work place change...even our work around the house if you are a full-time homemaker...if we all did our work as unto the Lord, keeping the fear of God before our eyes? Goodness, this is convicting to me!
How would my day change if I remembered to do my work as unto the Lord? Would I waste all sorts of time on Facebook and other social media? Would I complain about my work? How would the quality of my work change? How would I begin to view my possessions?
This whole section in Colossians 3 has to do with personal relationships in the family and employer/employee relationships...well, back in that time, it was probably more slave/slave master relationships. But since we do not have slaves, it is applicable to the employer/employee relationship today.
Many women's lib types chafe when they see verse 18. They think it somehow means that women are less valuable than men. It doesn't mean that at all. It's just that there needs to be some sort of order with in the family. If everyone is trying to be the boss then confusion is going to reign within the home. It doesn't mean that the wishes and opinions of the wife are less valued. If the husband is loving his wife as he ought, he will take into consideration her thoughts and opinions on a matter and between the two of them they will come up with a workable solution, but the wife should be able to trust that her husband will make a wise final decision.
Children are to be obedient to the parents. They are not the decision makers in the family. Far too many families let the children's wishes rule and mom and dad are worn out jumping when the children say frog.
I always thought it was interesting that God saw fit to put the verse in about fathers not provoking their children to anger and causing them to be discouraged. Why was this needed? In my observation, I've noticed a lot of fathers who are either too hard on their kids or they are too passive with them.
A father that is too hard on the children demands so much and expects so much of them that if they don't attain it he berates them for it. The children become angry with the unreasonable demands and get discouraged because they don't think they can do anything right.
A father that is too soft on the kids or not involved with them, causes them anger because they begin to think their father doesn't really care about them enough to teach them anything or spend time with them. They become discouraged wondering if they are truly loved. They throw up their hands and figure it's no use to try to impress him because he doesn't seem to really care.
The verse about servants and masters is applicable to day to the employer/employee relationship. There is a great temptation to do one's job well when the boss is looking and to slack off when the boss is not watching. This would be one definition of men-pleasers. Another definition would be doing your work well just so you will be recognized and patted on the back by the boss for a job well done. Either motivation is not what the Apostle Paul has in mind. He says we should do our work with the single purpose for the Lord, keeping the fear of God before our eyes.
How would the work place change...even our work around the house if you are a full-time homemaker...if we all did our work as unto the Lord, keeping the fear of God before our eyes? Goodness, this is convicting to me!
How would my day change if I remembered to do my work as unto the Lord? Would I waste all sorts of time on Facebook and other social media? Would I complain about my work? How would the quality of my work change? How would I begin to view my possessions?
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