Serve the Lord Christ

February 24, 2013

Lesson: Colossians 3:18–4:6

Key Verses: Col. 3:23–24

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Introduction

The Psalmist calls us into the joyful service of our King: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing!” (Psa. 100:1–2)  We who love our Lord who first loved us take service to Him seriously; knowing that he makes our service full of gladness. The word for service in Psalm 100 means to labor as to plow the earth! The Lord uses this same word when he speaks to Moses and commands him to confront the Pharaoh to free his people: “Thus saith the Lord: Israel is my son, even my firstborn: and I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn” (Ex. 4:22–23). The Lord calls his people, his sons (in Christ we are nothing less than his adopted children of the Father’s household). God the Father frees his children that they should serve Him. And, as it was by the blood of the Pharaoh’s son that the people were set free, so it would be by the blood of his Son, Christ Jesus, that all of his children would be set free, forgiven of the transgressions, that they should serve him. This idea of service, of which our key verses speak, “And whatever you do, do it heartily …for you serve the Lord Christ,” is spoken of by our Lord Jesus: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold (loyal) to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matt. 6:24).

The following verses further define our service before our Lord and Deliverer: Paul speaks of serving the Lord in “newness of Spirit”—“But now we are delivered from the law,  that being dead wherein we are held; that we should serve in newness of the Spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter” (Rom. 7:6). The law of God, no longer binding us to sin and its consequences, is now seen as a joy in our obedience, helping us to grow in moral maturity by the indwelling Spirit.  Paul speaks of his son in the faith, Timothy, as one “who will sincerely care.” The congregation at Philippi saw the true character of a Christian in Timothy: “But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the Gospel” (Phil. 2:22).

Thus, the type of service of which we speak is to be seen in us as children of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, whereby we serve our King and Savior; and so we serve our Father in heaven, to his glory, and with much joy and gladness. This service is to been seen, not only in the worship of God, but in our everyday relationships: in the home, in the fellowship, and in the work field. There is no compromise in this kind of service, but there is the love of God in and through us.

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Serve the Lord in the Family—Colossians 3:18–21

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, be not against them.” The Greek for “submit yourselves,” means to place oneself, in an orderly fashion, under someone else, to become dependent. There is only one place in the New Testament where this word has the meaning of being under compulsion or constraint to be submissive; and that is Satan’s submission to Christ the King, through his disciples. The devils have no other alternative: “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” (Luke 10:17).

Wives serve the Lord as they submit themselves to their husbands. This is fitting, agreeable, pleasing to the Lord; for a wife to submit herself to her husband means that she has a grand purpose in doing so. As in the apostle’s epistle, which reads, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection (submit) to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives” (1 Peter 3:1). In the case of an unbelieving or weak husband, the wife submits herself to the end that the husband may be blessed by the Word of Life. (There is nothing in this submission where a wife has to stay to be beaten upon.) In the case of a believing husband, she becomes a true helpmeet who adds to the gifts, talents, love, etc., of the husband, and thereby glorifies Christ.

Husbands, therefore, because of this glorious position of the wife, are to love them and not be bitter toward them. This word love comes from the word agapao, which indicates a direction of the will. This love is greater than phileo love, which speaks of one’s contentment with another. Agapao love speaks of a high moral character that expresses itself with great compassion. The husband willfully directs his love toward his wife as Christ directed his love toward his Church: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Eph. 5:25).

Herein is God’s covenant established, in the fellowship of believers, as it is manifested in the relationship of husband and wife. It is in this covenant love that our children are born. Their attachment to the covenant is revealed in their baptism, which is a sign and seal of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. (It is a sign and seal of that which is needed for our salvation, the regeneration of the Holy Spirit.) Therefore, knowing that our children are not abandoned by God until they become of age, the Spirit of God who enables us in our service and obedience enables our children to be indispensable members of our household. Therefore, they must hear these words of Scriptures: “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”

It is pleasing to the Lord that a loving and serving relationship be maintained in the family. The father who discourages obedience by his actions and attitude must come to the Lord in repentance and faith. Parents cannot expect obedience unless they first practice a loving relationship between one another, and between themselves and God. To send a child to Bible school, but not be avid learners themselves, parents provoke a child, rather than encourage a child to grow in faith.

Discussion: In what ways can we serve the Lord in the home?

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Sincerity of Heart—Colossians 3:22, 4:1

We must, as servants, ask ourselves, “Whom do we serve?” Service is wrapped around true relationships. You do not serve God in a vacuum, but as an active member of his household. The relationship of husband and wife includes their relationship with God, as does the relationship of parents to children. This is also true with the relationship of master to a servant, employer to a worker, etc. Obedience and service are to be practiced because of the Christian’s relationship with the Savior: “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God: …Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal (equitable); knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.”

Whether you’re a master or a servant, both are true servants, one with another, of the Lord. The president of the United States must not only treat those who work for him squarely and evenhandedly, but do so as a servant of God, with moral fortitude and righteousness. There is only one true Master that must be served in all of our relationships and work on this earth, as we live in the flesh.

Therefore, it is with sincerity of heart and in the fear of God that we do our daily work, to serve our boss well, as well as those who work for us. Our object is to do things that please God and not man. There must be no compromise in this. John Calvin sets our minds on the rule that establishes our heart before God: “Moreover, our mind must always have regard for the Lawgiver, that we may know that this rule was established for our hearts as well as for our hands, in order that men may strive to protect and promote the well-being and interests of others” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 8^th Commandment).

Discussion: What does it mean to serve the Lord with sincerity of heart?

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Prayer and Walk—Colossians 4:2–6

What are we doing in order to practice and grow in these relationships? Everything that a Christian does improves or hinders our relationships with God and one another. You say what about the employer or the worker who is mean, doing and saying things that hurt those who desire to do right? Just make sure that it is his insincere heart that is motivating his or her action, and not what we are doing or saying.

Paul’s admonition is for us to look to our religious practices as children of God: Continue earnestly in prayer, and in your vigilance, make a place in each and every prayer for thanksgiving. Paul asks for prayer for himself that the door would be opened that he would be able to “speak of the mystery of Christ” as he was in chains. His counsel includes a walk in wisdom, which redeems the time we spend on earth.  Not only our deeds, but also our speech is to manifest grace, being careful to understand with wisdom, and thereby knowing how to give an answer to those around us.

Discussion: What are some of the things we need to pray for that we may be faithful followers of Christ?

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With One’s Whole Soul—Colossians 3:23–25

Verses 17 and 23 repeat a glorious theme of our service in Christ: “And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him” (17)—And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (23). This sums up our motivation and desired end in serving God through many different relationships. Everything is to be done in the name or person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must let this be known. We must look for the opportunities that set us apart from the world, which seeks only self pleasure. Every day and every task is to be undertaken and seen with the giving of thanks to our heavenly Father. We are to do these things heartily, with the whole heart and soul, knowing that we are doing and saying things in the home, in the fellowship of believers, and in the workplace—doing all things as to the Lord. For it is from the Lord Jesus Christ that we will receive an eternal inheritance. The world may give us a plaque or even a raise in pay, but only God can grant us a reward for serving the Lord Jesus Christ in all things. As for those who do wrong, they will be repaid by the Lord, for there is no partiality.

Thomas Watson wrote: “Let us exalt Christ in our hearts; believe, adore and love him. We cannot lift him up higher in heaven, but we may in our hearts. Let us exalt him in our lips; let us praise him. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy (Spirit), our tongues must be the organs in these temples. By praising and commending Christ, we exalt him in the esteem of others. Let us exalt him in our lives by living holy lives: …It makes Christ renowned, and lifts him up indeed, when his followers walk worthy of him.”

Discussion: What is our purpose in following and serving Christ in all things?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2013 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.