Sunday’s Comin’: Family Matters

Colossians 3:18-21 (NASB95)
18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.
20 Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

If you turn on the TV and start surfing channels, it won’t be long before you come across a reality show: Big Brother, Survival, the Real World, Flavor of Love (every time I think of that one I want to throw up), The Bachelor and the list goes on. I think most of these reveal to us just how godless and relationally bankrupted we are as a society.

Yet, I can’t help but wonder what you would see if cameras were set up in my household. I’m not talking about during the first few weeks. No, I’m talking a month or two out when I have forgotten that the cameras are running. Would you see sarcasm? Selfishness? Disconnectedness? Or would you see a man who is striving to live a Christ-centered life in front of his wife and children?

The next two Sundays should be interesting. We will continue our study, Grace in Community, by looking at the family. Paul sets guidelines for each member of the family: wives be subject; husbands/ fathers love and don’t be bitter or provoke; children obey. It is easy to look at Colossians 3:18-21 and believe that we can center on these things only and have a great family. I believe it is impossible to achieve without the foundation Paul established in the previous verses.

He tells us that “We have put on the new self” which means we are submitted to God and His ways. Therefore, we have put on:

A. A heart of compassion

B. Kindness

C. Humility

D. Gentleness

E. Patience (long suffering)

F. We are forgiving

G. We are loving

These virtues should not only be displayed in activities outside the home, such as small groups, on Sunday mornings, in the grocery store, at sporting events, etc, but they are to be seen in the home also. We have put on the new self and we don’t have the privilege of taking it off when we go home.

Join us Sunday as we talk about Grace in Community: Family Matters

Will Dungee