# 06 2016 Devotional Colossians 3:23 The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Colossians 3:23
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Colossians is a short letter from Paul addressing several heresies and by doing so he praises Jesus Christ as one who “was before all things and in Him all things hold together”. Further, Paul explains the redemption we have in Jesus’ blood reconciling us to God, “the gospel proclaimed to every creature under heaven”. Paul also emphasizes our freedom as followers of Jesus. Pauls warns them and us not be enslaved again to rules and regulations in a world from which Christ has saved us.
After pointing out the pitfalls of “empty philosophies” Paul seeks to put them and us on a solid footing with “rules for holy living”, chapter 3. Briefly we look at a summary; “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things”. We leave the past and “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator”. Here we see the culmination of what Paul is asking the Colossians and us to be: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people…” (see Col 3.12-17).
Paul is not satisfied with rules for holy living, he makes it practical and applicable with “rules for Christian households” There is direction for everyone; wives, husbands, children, fathers, for slaves and slave owners. That is where we find verse 23, as we begin with verse 22: slaves are told to obey “with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord”. How do we apply that verse today? We have bosses over us, they have expectations from us in exchange for a paycheck, Therefore, verse 23 applies to everything we do “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart”. That is the expectation Jesus has for us! Where ever He calls us, in every situation, through every challenge to our calling, “do it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men”! Paul is asking a lot of slaves, but then God is asking a lot of us. With these two sets of rules we are advised, we are encouraged, we are empowered in the Holy Spirit to put all of our hearts into God’s call on our lives. Praise be to God!
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