Heart Validation

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. (Colossians 3:18-25, NKJV)


REFLECTIONS:
We’re focused on submission during this stretch of devotions, and one definition I ran across stated that it’s a humble attitude where obedience is rendered within a relationship.  The verses that we focus on today out of Colossians speak to the most dear relationships we as Christians engage in—those of family.  Paul seems to be emphasizing that if the gospel has been accepted and truth about God’s grace has been affirmed then relationships within the home will be transformed.  And that transformation, I think, comes because of our obedience first and foremost to Christ.  If we’re obeying Christ then we’re much more inclined to being submissive to others around us.  While there are different types of submission referred to in the above verses (for example, a wives’ submission should be voluntary to the headship of her husband, while children are called to outright obedience to their parents), if the members of the family are Christ-followers they are called to submission with other family members.  And please note that no one is excluded.  There may be different calls on each relationship, but everyone is called in some way to transform their relationships to something above worldly standards.  Paul continues by saying that we should seek to transform these as service to the Lord.  We are to put our best into these relationships that are so near to us.  And Paul asserts that all work done to the honor of Christ will bring eternal reward, including the building of Godly relationships with our family.  


POINT OF ACTION:
As I reread my reflections a thought continues to blink through my head—“Easier said than done!”  Relationships are hard, and those with our family can be all the more so more often than not.  Spend a few minutes thinking about your relationships and ask in what ways you could work towards a greater transformation of them.  I think it is very true that what happens in the home validates what has happened in the heart.  So if something seems off ask the Lord to show you what the heart matter is at the root of the issue.  When we’re seeking He’s usually pretty great about revealing.  


WHO AM I?
I’m Jennifer Babb and I’m a thrill-seeker.  I’m the third row back on this ride—the X-Scream, 866 feet off the ground, atop the Stratosphere in Vegas.  My sister was daring enough to ride with me.  Her husband told her not to but she didn’t submit.  :)