Rules for…

Colossians 3

My study took me to Colossians 3 this morning. I just love my study time, I take each section of scripture and look at it from every angle and see how I can inject the Word into the many facets of my life. Many scriptures popped out at me and I thought I should write about them but as I went back over the chapter as a whole something bigger came to me. I am guilty. The section titles for Chapter 3 are titled “Rules for Holy Living” and “Rules for Christian Household.” NO-ONE LIKES RULES, that is my downfall as well. I want to have fun when I want and how I want, sounds carnal doesn’t it, maybe even childish. But that’s how we as humans are. Well then it got me to thinking about where rules are in place. They are everywhere. Why so many rules and who decided there should be rules in the first place and why? Well that takes us way back to “In the Beginning… GOD”, remember he gave the first rule to Adam. God told him “not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”, Genesis 2:17. As soon as God put man in the garden he gave a rule. Why? As crazy as it is we need to know the boundaries and there are consequences for crossing the boundary. There are always consequences, good or bad we are subject to them. Genesis 2:17 goes on to say that “when you eat of it (the tree of knowledge of good and evil) you will surely die.” There is our first rule. Wow, only one man on the face of this earth and we have rules. How sad is that. Well then I thought about play time, driving, swimming, work, school, church, family time, hanging out at home, hanging out at other people’s homes… there are rules. And there are rules so we know our boundaries and can live around others not disrespecting them and to keep everyone safe. Some people believe rules are only handed down to make people miserable. Just think of the misery we would be in without rules. How loud and miserable would your house be if there were no rules? How safe would driving be if we didn’t have transportation guidelines and limits? I wouldn’t want to drive or even be on the road for that matter. Another word for Rules is the word Law. God gave us the law a long time ago so that we would know right from wrong and how to conduct ourselves. Some say well when Jesus came the law was done away with. Jesus says in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Just because the King comes to town doesn’t mean we can all go crazy, we still have to conduct ourselves as if he wasn’t here; which is also talked about in the passage. Col 3:22-25 says, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.” When you think about it we all work for someone; either we as wives work for our husbands to keep the house and children straight, you own your own business you are working for the customer and there are those that have a boss. Even though we work for the paycheck to feed, clothe and shield our family from the elements we should also remember we are working unto the Lord and let that be our reward knowing he will provide our needs. As you go through this day if you can I urge you to pick up your bible and read through Colossians 3 to see what God has for you.
Have a beautiful day!