Called to salvation, holiness and work - Taking a look at the concept of one's vocation

Ephesians 6:7 "With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men."

Introduction: 

Have you ever thought of your job as a calling? Both the Bible and the history of Christian thought abound with teachings that declare that not just the preacher, but everyone who carries a responsibility, holds an office, performs duties at a work under a supervisor or boss or who are parents have a calling. Every single person in society occupies what is called a "station" or "standing in life". Theologian Gustaf Wingren notes: Stand is one's station in life. These stations are external and are so arranged to serve others. "It is only before God, i.e., in heaven, that the individual stands
alone. In the earthly realm man always stands in relation, always bound to another. From this it is clear that every Christian occupies a multitude of offices at the same time, not just one: the same man is, for instance, father of his children, husband of his wife, master of his servants, and office holder in the town hall".

Authors such as Wingren explain this truth being part of what is called the doctrine of "vocation". Perhaps you have heard of a "vocational technical school" or you have undoubtedly heard of jobs being referred to as one's "vocation". The term "vocation" is related to a Latin root the carries with it the idea of "calling". In Bible doctrine, the idea of vocation has to do with a Christian living out the will of God and loving their neighbor by means of their current situation or place in life (i.e station). Whether some people realize it or not, various "stations" such as parents, police officers, pastors, laborers and employers are ordained by God to sustain a level of order in this world. 

When a person is called by the Spirit of God to faith in Jesus Christ, only then within the confines of such stations can one see that what they do (whether baker, laborer or candlestick maker) is serving God by serving others through the particular giftings and calling (i.e vocation) He has given them.  Seeing how this truth is spelled out in scripture in relationship to two other "callings" will aid us in seeing why it is so important to understand.

The three callings in the Bible: Salvation, Sanctification and Vocation

Often when Christians speak of "being called", the normal image that comes to mind is either a pastor or missionary being "called" to serve God. Understand though that the theme of "God's calling" is dominate in describing the entirety of the Christian life. The first and most fundamental call is that to salvation. Jesus notes in Matthew 9:13  "But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” It is only when Jesus calls individual sinners by means of the spoken scriptures that there can be a legitimate response unto salvation. (Romans 10:17; 1 Cor 1:9) 1 Peter 2:9 reminds us: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

The second calling described in the Bible is that of sanctification, which every disciple of Jesus Christ is called to live out and yield to Christ to let Him live out the life through them. We could also call this calling "the calling to holiness", as exampled in 1 Corinthians 1:2 "To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours." The phrase translated "saints" literally means "holy ones" or "set apart ones" and thus the Christian by definition is called by God to live a Holy and devout life. For example, consider 1 Peter 1:15-16 "but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 

Thus the calling of salvation and the calling to sanctification provide the foundation and backdrop for the Christian's third calling, the one which we began with in today's post, namely "the calling of work" or vocation. As we noted earlier, vocation explains how any job or profession is duly ordained by God to all kinds of people and professions, not just pastors and missionaries, to affect His Divine order in this world. Only the Christian, having been Divinely affected by saving grace to respond in faith and repentance can see any job as an opportunity to be a channel through which God can use them. 

The ability and opportunity to work was first spelled out in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 2:8 we see the primary purpose as to why God created man and placed him in the garden: "The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed." Notice here, we see God providing the place and the role for the man - i.e his station. Then in Genesis 2:15, with the perfect man in fellowship with God, we see the purpose for which God placed him: "Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it." We understand that the calling to go to work was the first Divinely ordained institution, with the family being the second at the end of Genesis 2. 

The God-centered view of work (i.e vocation) was lost in the fall, and only can be regained in the New Birth experience of saving faith in Jesus Christ. As Romans 14:7-8 states - "For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s."

Closing thoughts

As we understand God's calling to serve Him by serving our neighbor in whatever field, office or job we hold, we will then more appreciate the larger calling to be holy and the most important calling of them all - salvation. 

Focusing on what is important to take care of what is important - Colossians 3:1-4:1

Colossians 3:1-2 "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." 

Introduction:

Today's post is all about focusing on what is important to take care of what is important.  This title will function also as our main point of application. Below we will flesh this truth out by considering how we evalute our lives in general and particular areas ranging from our internal spiritual lives, marriages, parenting and jobs in light of focusing upon our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Focus on the things above, where Christ is, to order what you have going on in the things here below

Paul's point is to underscore the sufficiency and supremacy of Jesus Christ in all things from two vantage points: things above and things below. Whenever you look through a pair of binoculors, two eye pieces are used to bring into focus and proper perception whatever object your are viewing. In looking at "the things above", where Christ is, I am able to prioritize and manage the "things here below" in their proper perspective. Paul's usage of the "above and below" theme runs throughout Colossians 3. Colossians 3:1-14 serves to unfold what it means to give it all to Jesus, that is to say, taking everything here below and submitting it under His Lordship. 

Colossians 3:15-17 goes from the big picture to the little picture of what it looks like when I am finding Christian fulfillment in the Lordship of Christ, the Holy Spirit's filling ministry, the scriptures and thankfulness. The "things above" and "things below" theme understands that Jesus Christ is as much Lord in the heavens above as He is in and over our lives here below. 

Focusing on Christ above enables you to be on target with your family

As Paul writes on into Colossians 3:18-21, we see him continuing to take this theme of Christ's supremacy and Lordship and funneling it down into very specific and practical everyday affairs. How is it that you and I can have on-target Christian marriages? By keeping our focus on the things above, where Christ is. 

What about on-target Christian parenting? How is it that in living in the 21st century world we can be assured that we are on-target in how we deal with our children? Again the answer is clear from the overall context of Colossians 3: focus on the things above, where Christ is. 

Focusing on Christ above enables you to have the right perspective on your job

We then come to Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily,as for the Lord rather than for men,24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve." As you broaden the context of this final set of specific instructions from Paul to include Colossians 3:22-4:1, as well as the wider context of Colossians 3:1-4:1,  you discover that the urgency to focus "on the things above, where Christ is" once more reaffirmed. 

Why is it that slaves ought to serve their masters with a heart aimed at pleasing God, rather than man? Why should masters exercise just and fair treatment of their slaves? These thoughts in Colossians 3:22-4:1 would had run counter to the slave/master mentality that was dominant in the first century. Some of criticized Paul and the authors of the New Testament for not issuing explicit statements denouncing the slave industry of Rome. However as Charles Quarles and Brett Selby in their resource: "Colossians, Christ is All you need" note: "At this time in in the history the Christian church was still small and did not have the political clout to abolish slavery any more than it could outlaw prostitution or infanticide. Although Paul did not call for the abolition of slavery, he believed that the Gospel radically reformed the institution. The Gospel so dramatically changed the relationships between slaves and masters that slavery by the normal ancient defintion practically ceased to exist in the Christian church." Certainly institutions such as slavery have no place whatsoever in society in general and definitely can never be shown to allign with the Gospel and Christianity in particular. 

To apply the statements we read here in Colossians, it is best to understand the relationship an employer as with their employees in today's world, and thus the route that seems appropriate in applying these passages.  Notice how often Paul instructs his readers (slaves and masters in his day, for us today, employees and employers) to do what they do in light of working for their Master - the Lord Jesus Christ:

Colossians 3:22 - "....but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord."

Colossians 3:23 - "Whatever you do, do your work heartily,as for the Lord rather than for men."

Colossians 3:24b - "It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."

Colossians 4:1b - "....knowing that you too have a Master in heaven."

When you and I recognize that we all ultimately do out labor for the Lord Jesus Christ, everything changes - from motives, to quality of work to the willingness to work. 

Closing Thoughts:

Today's post was all about focusing on what is important to take care of what is important.  In fleshing out this main thoughts we considered how we evalute our lives in general and particular areas ranging from our internal spiritual lives, marriages, parenting and jobs in light of focusing upon our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ. To God be the glory!

Four necessary ingredients for Godly living

Romans 16:25-27 "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen."

Introducing four ingredients for Godly living

As you study Psalms 109-111 and Romans 16 together, you discover four necessary ingredients for Godly living: 

1. God's Sovereign Goodness

2. God's Inerrant Word

3. Blood Redemption 

4. The Spirit-led (Spirit-filled) heart.  

Foundation #1 God's Sovereign Goodness

On the first read through of Psalm 109 and 110, it may appear that both are opposite, since the Psalmist is being oppressed by his enemies in 109 and seeing prophetic fulfillment in 110.  However upon closer inspection you discover God's Sovereign Goodness as preserving the writer in 109 and being the source of Psalm 110.  In fact it is in Psalm 111 that you see such goodness praised, as well as see His Sovereign Goodness closing out Romans 16. Romans 8:28 reminds us: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.'

Foundation #2: God's Inerrant Word

By beginning with God's Sovereign Goodness as the first foundation for Godly living, we move onto the second: God's inerrant Word.  When we speak of inerrancy, we are simply saying that every word that is in the Bible is true, accurate and without any mixture of error. The character of scripture as being without error finds its source in the fact that God Himself cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2). Essentially, God cannot lie when He speaks words; the Bible is the written Word of God, therefore the Bible is without error. 

Psalm 109-111 all make direct or indirect references to God's covenant to David in 2 Samuel 7:8-16.  The Loving kindness of God shown in that passage sustains the Psalmist in 109, enables the Psalmist to the see Christ reigning in 110 and causes him to praise God in Psalm 111.  God's inerrant Word is the source of the Gospel of salvation spoken of in Romans 16:25.  

If the Bible were not the inerrant Word of God, we could not trust it to relay accurately the Sovereign goodness of God, His dealings with men like David nor trust that the Gospel woven throughout its pages was of saving value. Christian growth requires an inerrant Bible revealed from the Sovereignly Good God. 

Foundation #3 Blood Redemption

The third foundation, blood redemption, is looked forward to Psalms 109-111 and spoken of in Romans 16.  Psalm 111:8 for example reminds us of God sending His redemption and Romans 16:25-26 states that the Gospel would not be possible without God having sent His Son.  Hebrews 12:2-3 underscores the priority of Christ's accomplished work for the Godly life: "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."  So in seeing those three foundations for Godly living: God's Sovereign goodness, inerrant word and Blood redemption, lets look at the final foundation: Spirit-led heart.  

Foundation #4 Spirit-led heart

The Spirit-led or Spirit-filled life is what gives the basis for Christian experience following salvation.  The Holy Spirit is the One who led the Psalmist to write what He wrote under the unique grace of Divine inspiration.  The Holy Spirit enables the saints of God to have glowing testimonies like the ones mentioned in Romans 16.  The Holy Spirit ministers to every Christian by way of three primary ministries: His indwelling of the child of God, His illumination and filling. 

From the moment a person is born again unto and by saving faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells or takes up residence inside the heart or human spirit of a person, bearing witness that they are children of God. (Romans 8:14-16; 1 Corinthians 3:16). 

The second ministry, illumination, defines how the Holy Spirit leads us into the scriptures and His ministry of sanctification that cleanses us to make us more like Jesus.  It is that third ministry, the filling of the Holy Spirit, where the Christian every day heeds the Spirit by the scriptures in active obedience and passive yielding. By the Spirit's leading we are becoming in experience whom God has declared us to be in position: children of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:16-17)  The Spirit-filled life is such a vital foundation because it is all about the Holy Spirit getting more and more of you.

Closing thoughts:
Today we looked at four important foundations for the Christian life: 

1. God's Sovereign Goodness

2. God's Inerrant Word

3. Blood Redemption 

4. The Spirit-led (or Spirit-filled) heart. 

Let these four foundations be ones upon which you live for Jesus Christ to the glory of God.  

Neutralizing doubt, worry and fear in your life

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline."

Introduction: Distinguishing doubt, worry and fear
What is the difference between doubt, worry and fear?  These three emotional and spiritual states are weaponry used by the enemy to plague the people of God.  When taken up by the believer, each one sabtoges the ability to see God clearly.  Doubt has to do with how I respond to God and His Word spoken to me in the past.  Fear functions similarly, only it deals with how I respond to God in the present.  If doubt has to do with what God said in the past and fear has to do with how I’m relating to Him in the present, then what about worry? Worry deals with my perceptions of what He will do in the future - all three of course are species of unbelief.  

All of those reading this blog can relate to all three of these deadly weapons.  Thankfully God has given us the scriptures to combat these and other devices used by the enemy of our souls.  Romans 15:4 tells us: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”  Sections of the Old Testament like the Psalms can readily equip us to defeat doubt, worry or fear.

So where are you finding yourself doubting, worrying or fearing?  I would encourage you to begin reading the scriptures out loud.  What Paul writes in Romans 10:17 concerning the beginnings of saving faith also applies to how one is kept in saving faith: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  As we noted earlier, the Psalms are among the most effective sections of scripture in defeating doubt, worry and fear. 

Consider the following thoughts from Psalm 37:

1. Warnings that can guard you from going down the road of doubt, worry and fear

Psalm 37:8 states: “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”  Notice that underlined word “fret”?  At least three times we find it mentioned in this Psalm.  In the Hebrew language this word “fret” is translated for the term “chara”.  Chara refers to literally getting oneself all hot and bothered or stirring up oneself into a heated frenzy.  Does that describe how you are feeling and dealing with life?  Do you feel pressure building in your gut, like you are going to explode?  That’s exactly what the Psalmist is warning you and I about here.  Thankfully He gives us this warning.  So what is the solution offered by the Psalmist?  Consider the next thought.

2. Walk in the rest of God

Psalm 37:1-8 acts as a series of bullets that you can use when that disturbing, troubling notion grips your heart.  Note how God gives a series of commands.  Commands are particularly important, since for every command in scripture there is always a provision of grace to carry them out.  God’s commands are not given because I’m simply able to do them.  Many people get discouraged when trying to carry out God’s commands.  They will say: “They are just too hard”.  Dear friend, the commands of God are not hard, they are impossible – that is, if you are not taking advantage of God’s provision of grace. 

Note how we are given instruction on resting is God in the following verses: “Fret not” in 37:1; “Trust” in verse 3; “Delight in the Lord” in verse 4; “Commit your way” in verse 5.  With these commands we see the provision of grace in verse 6: “And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”  

So if you are in the midst of darkness, note that God’s word gives you provision to enjoy an open heaven, a noonday sun despite the midnight of your circumstance.  Psalm 37:7 tells us to “rest in the Lord” and in verse 8 to “cease from anger”.  We are not promised immunity from trouble, however we are given the “rest of God” whereby we can rise above doubt, worry and fear. 

3. Win the battle knowing that God is fighting for you

Psalm 37:40 states: “And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.”  What is remarkable about this Psalm is that it begins with the command not to fret, and it ends with the confidence of victorious faith.  This is not a “pie in the sky, sweet by and by” theology, this is real life doctrine.  Knowing that God will never leave me, not forsake me, is more than enough to overcome doubt, worry and fear.

God's prescription for defeating worry

Philippians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

Introduction:
How often do you worry?  Fret?  Lay awake at night?  The above passage is a perfect prescription for combating chronic worry.  The word translated "anxious" puts in mind someone who keeps remembering again and again what they thought they might had missed or didn't do.  It is a soul that is not at rest - but always in constant activity. 

To be concerned and worried are two different things.  Concern is having an attitude of responsibility for things that I should take care of before its too late.  Worry is trying to take responsibility for things whose outcome I really can't control nor know.  The following assertions are the cornerstones of worry: I want to know!  I want to be in control!    Worry tries to accomplish them without consideration of God's Sovereign control. Only He knows all things and only He can control outcomes. (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28)

God's prescription for defeating worry
Philippians 4:6-7 gives us the antidote to worry:

1. In everything by prayer.  
This is resigning yourself to God's control and breaking free of the tyranny of the urgent.  When you give everything to God in prayer, it means that you recognize that your strength and your effort requires His insight. Prayer is you opening the windows of your life to let the fresh air of His power to rush in and guide you through.

2. With supplication.  
I heard a preacher one time define supplication as praying the type of prayer that turns you inside out and outside in, resulting in God making you alright.  This is intense prayer.  This is where you do business with God - where He goes from an abstract concept to The Real Person you are relying on for everything. 

3. Thanksgiving.  
A thankless heart will never be in the position to recognize God's answer. Thankfulness enables you to be open to what God is doing and wants to do.  Why?  Because you are thanking Him for what He has done for you already. Thanksgiving in prayer is able to thank God for the provision before it even arrives, being that we are focusing more on His character than the solution for which we are praying.

4. Let your requests be made known to God.  
Get specific.  Get personal.  That is what God wants.  The need is designed by God to drive you to Him.  How often has your prayer life thrived when everything was comfortable?  It is rare.  More often than not, the Christian-walk seeks the God of Glory when times are dark.  Faith reaches higher when the valley grows deeper. 

Now note the promises that result from taking in this prescription:

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding. 
Just to know that God has it all taken care of and that He will never leave you nor forsake you is the greatest comfort. (see Hebrews 13:5,6,8)  Philippians 4:6-7 reinforces this thought with a second promise, namely that His peace will guard your heart nad mind in Christ.  When our mind is racing - we need the peace of God in Christ.  When our heart is heavy - we need the peace of Christ to lift it up.  Take this prescription by faith - and watch your worry be replaced by enduring faith that has peace without end.

Ministering to people as Jesus did

Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Introduction:

New Testament scholar Merrill Tenney wrote the following statement about The Gospel of Luke's presentation of Jesus Christ: "The material of Luke is organized around the central concept of Jesus as a member of humanity who lived a perfect and representative life of the Son of Man through the Holy Spirit." Jesus' ministry to people during His days on this earth is most clearly presented in the Gospel of Luke. This central idea of His ministry to people is extended by the Holy Spirit both spiritually and logically through His church. In John 17:22 Jesus prayed: "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one." We then see this statement in 1 Corinthians 12:27 "Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it." The Apostle John writes in 1 John 2:6 "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked." Perhaps the most remarkable statement is found in 1 John 4:17 "By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world."

Therefore what we are looking at in today's post has as much to do with the Christian's ministry to people as it does Jesus' ministry, because by extension through the Holy Spirit's agency, disciples of Jesus are ministering as Jesus' hands and feet to people. We want to explore what it means to minister to people as Jesus did.

Point of application: As we consider specifically the Gospel of Luke, we want to see how Jesus ministered to people, and what we in turn can learn and apply in our own contacts with people. Our point of application for today will be: Ministering like Jesus Christ is the only way to effectively minister to people. In scanning the Gospel of Luke, we find at least three details that highlight how Jesus ministered to people:

Personal Conversations.

Jesus is found talking to all kinds of people, in all kinds of ways through out the Gospel of Luke. Only Luke records a young Jesus holding a conversation with the teachers of the Law in the temple in Luke 2:46-47. Jesus called his disciples personally in Luke 5:1-11 and engaged a tax collector named Matthew in Luke 5:27-32, who would become his disciple and author of the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus did not restrict himself to certain classes or groups. He dealt with: 

1. lepers (Lk 5:12-16)

2. paralytics (Lk 5:17-26)

3. a centurion (Lk 7:1-10)

4. widows (Lk 7:11-17)

5. sinful women (Lk 7:36-50)

6. mothers (Lk 8:19-21)

7. children (Lk 8:40-56)

8. large crowds (Lk 9:10-17)

9. individuals (Lk 9:18-21)

10. angry people (Lk 9:51-56)

11. Godly women (Lk 10:38-42)

12. rejected people like Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9)

13. religious hypocrites (Lk 20:34-38)

14. traitors (Lk 22:47-49)

15. politicians (Lk 23:1-7)

16. a dying criminal (Lk 23:43) 

17. His followers (Lk 24:46-49)

Nearly twenty different kinds of conversations with all kinds of people are recorded in Luke. Jesus ministered by way of conversations.  As believers, our daily interactions with people gives occasion for us to communicate Jesus' love and presence. As we have noted already: Ministering like Jesus Christ is the only way to effectively minister to people. But notice also how Jesus ministered to people, not only by way of personal conversations, but also...

Parables about people.

In scanning through Luke's Gospel, one can count at least 28 parables. Of those 28 parables told by Jesus, at least 19 of them are about people. Jesus' parables about people dealt with such characters as:

1. good Samaritans (Lk 10:30-37)

2. rich fools (Lk 12:16-21)

3. faithful servants (Lk 12:35-40)

4. Kings (Lk 14:25-33)

5. Rich man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31)

note: I take this to be a true account told in a parabolic fashion

6. an unworthy slave (Lk 17:7-10)

7. prayerful widow (Lk 18:1-8)

8. Pharisee and tax collector (Lk 18:9-14)

More could be mentioned, however the sample just given illustrates how much Jesus not only talked to people, but thought about people. We to need to be about the business of thinking about and praying for people, just as Jesus did. So in ministering like Jesus, we can see He engaged in personal conversations and told parables about people, but notice lastly....

Purpose of His mission. Luke 19:10

Luke 19:10 states - "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke spells out in his main verse of his Gospel the purpose for why Jesus came: to save lost people. In the preceeding context of Luke 19:1-9, we can see the three-fold outline of Luke 19:10 applied to Jesus' engagement with Zacchaeus:

The Son of man came...Luke 19:1-5

To seek........Luke 19:6-8

and to save that which was lost Luke 19:9

Why we as Christians are here on this earth? We are to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth until Jesus comes. (Mt 24:14; 28:18-20) We are His royal ambassadors to a lost and dying world. (2 Corinthians 5:15-21) As author and pastor John Piper has often said: missions exists because worship doesn't. 

Closing thoughts:

Today's post featured a flyover of Luke's Gospel with the intent to understand how Jesus ministered to people. Our main point of application was: Ministering like Jesus Christ is the only way to effectively minister to people. We saw this specifically in three ways: Jesus' personal conversations, parables and purpose for His mission. We discovered that as we engage with people in daily conversations, share stories and remember our main purpose for being here, we too can by the power of the Holy Spirit minister to people like Jesus did. 

On-Target Christian Parenting - Colossians 3:20-21

Colossians 3:20-21 "Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasingto the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart."

Note: The reader is invited to look at a differently worded version of this post at the other blogsite: http://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2014/08/21/looking-at-on-target-christian-parenting-in-colossians-320-21/

Introduction:
I wanted to begin today's post with a text I received this week from a Godly man:
"We know Satan wants us to fail as fathers. In particular, I think he wants our boys. There are several reasons for this. First, Satan is like a shrewd financial investor seeking a huge return for his effort. He seeks the biggest bang for his spiritual destruction buck. Young men represent a golden opportunity for him if they can be led astray. Young men can do a lot of damage physically, financially, relationally and socially -when they are not serving the Lord. 

Second, Satan not only reaps immediate dividends from his investment in young men, he yields exponential long-term results. When Satan reviews his investment portfolio, he reveals the compounding problems he can create when men have lost their way. The history books are littered with men who had explosive, multi-generational negative impact, from the absentee father to the crooked executive to the ruthless dictator. Take down one man and you often get several generations afterward.

Finally, Satan destroys godly womanhood through the men. We are unwittingly dragging generations of women through the filth of our selfish passions and absence of leadership. Destruction of fatherhood gets calateral damage: the demolition of the Godly woman. 

So if you are a father of sons, you are one of satan's prime targets. Let us commit as men to stand in the gap for our boys. Let us pray for them, engage them, rebuke them, encourage them and inspire them to follow the Lord."

That text confirmed to me the direction I knew I was going to be heading this week in both these blog posts. Undoubtedly the book of Colossians urges readers to understand and apply the truth of: "Jesus is enough". Whenever husbands love their wives as Christ loves the church, she will desire to fulfill the command given to her to submit to his role as her covering or head. How a husband treats his wife will govern how she responds, and the manner in which she reacts to his leadership in the home. Today's post is aimed at identifying on-target parenting.

Point of Application:
So how can you know when your parenting is on target? The main point of application for today's post will propose the following answer: When your parenting is aimed at Jesus Christ, you will have all you need to thrive.


Normally in sermons or discussions on passages like Colossians 3:20-21, people like to point out the significance of the need for children to obey their parents. Undoubtedly this observation is true, however it does not cover all that is being communicated in the passage. 

In Ephesians 6:4 we note similar wording to Colossians 3:21: "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Whenever we consider the things a father could do to disrupt the harmony in the home, Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:19,21 spell out the following things that a father ought not to do, followed by what he must do.

WHAT A FATHER SHOULD NEVER DO IN PARENTING

Ephesians 6:4 "Father, do not provoke your children to anger...". (NASB) The phrase translated "do not provoke your children to anger" speaks of not doing something that would intentionally incite a person to be frustrated or to be moved to outburst and retribution. The command here in Ephesians 6:4 is warning fathers to not engage in a parenting style that could intentionally irritate their children and create within them a resentment. Such activity speaks of a father whose parenting style and interraction with their child produces rebellion rather than right behavior.

The parallel worded passage of Colossians 3:21 reads in the NASB "Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart." A child who is "expasperated" by their dad represents a high tension spring just waiting to "let loose" by the slightest irriation. 

Perhaps we could say that in viewing both Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21 together, both respectively warn against beginning to provoke the child, lest it leads to an all-out war later on down the road!

If fathers are to expect their children to submit to their authority or if they expect to produce children who will heed and respect them, they must parent in such a way as not to knowingly frustrate their child. Not only can such outcomes result from willful, intentional acts of bad parenting, but also in the opposite extreme of neglecting to set boundaries. (see Proverbs 13:24)

WHAT A FATHER SHOULD DO IN PARENTING
In as much as Paul issues for these negative admonitions to fathers to "not provoke their children to anger" in Ephesians 6:4 and "to not exasperate their children" in Colossians 3:21, what then ought Godly father be aiming to do? Certainly there are sins to avoid in these texts, however, what kind of parenting ought a father being exercising toward their children as seen in these texts? I find it interesting that in the positive commands given to the children to "obey their parents", the reasoning for doing so points to the Heavenly Father. Why is this significant? Whatever the Heavenly Father does and Who He is ought to provide the standard for earthly fathers.

Jesus speaks of the correlation between earthly fathers and the Heavenly Father in Luke 11:11-13 "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

Being that the Heavenly Father loves his redeemed people and provided all that is necessary for their salvation; obedience and submission ought to be a no-brainer. Why wouldn't a son or a daughter love a father who is nothing but loving, nurturing and caring? Thus by implication and based upon the character of the Heavenly Father, earthly fathers ought to love their children with the love of God through and through. (see the Father's character in James 1:17 & Matthew 6:25-33) They will know when to lovingly apply the firm hand of discipline and when to show the proper measure of patient and mercy.

Closing thoughts:

Today we considered on-target Christian parenting. Our main point of application was: When your parenting is aimed at Jesus Christ, you will have all you need to thrive.