Children and Parents; Slaves and Masters

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Children and Parents; Slaves and Masters

Date: Aug. 30, 2016

Passage

Ephesians 6:1-9 (ESV)

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 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.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 6:1

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

First, children, obey your parents (1-4). As we live to please our Father God, obeying him, so our children are to obey their parents in the Lord. God's commandment gives a promise to all obedient children: it may go well with you and that you may enjoy a long life on the earth. Fathers have great hope and expectation for their children, which can often lead them to exasperate them in high standards and impatience. Instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord, practicing the gospel of grace, patience, and mercy in the home.

Second, serve wholeheartedly (5-9). We don't have slavery today, but still we are to have an attitude of slaves of Christ, doing God's will from our heart, serving earthly masters as if we are serving the Lord, not people. God sees, and will reward. If we find ourselves in positions of authority, we should live in the fear of God, knowing he will call all to account.

Prayer: Thank you for being my heavenly Father. Help me to obey you. Help us live out the gospel in our families and working places.

One Word: Serve the Lord

Worthy is Jesus the Lamb

Revelation 5:1-14

Key Verse: 5:12

saying with a loud voice,

  “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
  to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
  and honor and glory and blessing!”

Today's Question

What does the fifth commandment forbid?

See answer and references