As unto Christ...

Walking in the Lord’s Order: A Reflection on Colossians 3:18–25

In Colossians 3:18–25, the Apostle Paul gives practical instruction for Christian households, grounding his commands in the supremacy of Christ and the new life believers have in Him. The passage is not a disconnected set of rules but the natural outworking of hearts transformed by grace.

“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”
This is not a command rooted in cultural norms or oppressive power structures. It is “fitting in the Lord.” The submission Paul speaks of is not blind obedience or inferiority, but a willing and God-honoring posture that reflects the Church’s relationship to Christ (see Ephesians 5:22–24). A wife’s submission is an act of faith and obedience to God, not a reaction to her husband's performance or character. This requires strength, not weakness, and is a beautiful picture of trust in God's good design.

“Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.”
The call to headship is not a license to dominate but a call to lay down one's life in sacrificial love. A husband who understands Christ’s love for the Church will be tender, patient, and kind. Paul’s warning against harshness reminds us how quickly pride can distort leadership into control. Biblical love is marked by humility and service. The cross is our model.

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
God’s design for the family includes children who honor and obey their parents. This obedience is not merely about keeping order; it pleases the Lord. Children raised in a gospel-centered home are being shaped to know the fear of God and the beauty of submission to Him. Obedience is a heart matter and must flow from faith, not just external compliance.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”
Fathers, as the spiritual leaders of the home, bear a unique responsibility. Authority must be exercised with gentleness and wisdom. Harshness, constant criticism, or legalistic demands can crush a child’s spirit. Just as our heavenly Father is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, so too should earthly fathers reflect that grace.

“Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters... with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.”
Paul turns to the ancient social structure of servitude, and while we rightly reject slavery today, the principles here apply to employees, workers, and anyone under authority. Christians are to work with sincerity and integrity, not as men-pleasers but as those who serve Christ. The dignity of work comes not from the task or the wage but from whom we serve.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
This verse reframes everything. Whether it’s cleaning, leading, teaching, parenting, or serving others, our work is unto Christ. The Lordship of Jesus transforms every corner of our lives. There is no separation between sacred and secular. All is to be done heartily, joyfully, and faithfully to please Him.

“You are serving the Lord Christ.”
This is the Christian's great motive. Whether you are a wife, a husband, a child, a father, or a worker, your true Master is Christ. His grace has saved you, and His glory now shapes your life. All of life is an act of worship, and obedience in the mundane becomes holy when offered unto Him.

“For the wrongdoer will be paid back... and there is no partiality.”
God is just. No act of injustice, laziness, cruelty, or abuse will be overlooked. This is both a warning and a comfort. God sees. He rewards righteousness and judges sin. For the believer, all our hope is in the righteousness of Christ, credited to us by grace through faith. But our conduct still matters. Those who are truly in Christ will bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

This is the fruit of a heart that knows it has been cleansed. The Gospel transforms not just what we believe but how we live. Christ is Lord of the home, Lord of our work, and Lord of every relationship. These instructions are not burdens but blessings, guiding us into the joy of living under His good and sovereign rule.

We always encourage everyone to check everything through the lens of the Scriptures. Be like the noble Bereans of Paul’s day. Please contact us for much more, and remember: all of life is to be lived Coram De, before the face of God.

Be sure to watch our website and keep an ear out for news regarding our move.  Updated locations for Tuesday bible study have been noted on the schedule, with more to come.

Until we meet again, lets keep serving our King!

FRF Family