[Surgery update inserted early August 3. Sorry I didn’t get one in before. I tried once but must have missed a step. Surgery went well. I was awake and alert through it all (lots of sawing and hammering!). Doc said the old knee was a mess. We came home Thursday as normally happens with my doc. I’m getting around OK with walker or cane.. I took my last narcotic early Friday. Just Tylenol now. I’m gradually (but slowly) getting stronger. Not much stamina.] 

The past few months I’ve had a lot of fun going through Colossians with a few men, at least one of whom has not done formal bible study before. I keep it simple: Observe (what does the text say?), Organize (what are the main ideas?), Obey (how can I put something into practice?).

We recently looked at Colossians 3.18 – 4.1, the relationship section: wives/husbands, children/parents, bondservants/masters. The main thing I noticed beyond the fact that instructions were given to both sides of each relationship was that we are called to behave the way we do because of our relationship to Christ:

• Wives submit…as is fitting in the Lord.
• Children obey…for this pleases the Lord.
• Bondservants obey…fearing the Lord…work heartily as for the Lord…you are serving the Lord Christ.
• Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

The parallel passage in Ephesians has strong instructions to husbands and fathers based on the example of Christ and our relationship to him.

• Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. (Ephesians 5.25, ESV)
• Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6.4, ESV)

Jesus was clear about this! We love others because Jesus loves us. We treat others as Jesus treats us. It’s a higher standard, and I’ll say more about that tomorrow.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (John 13.34, ESV)

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13.3 – 5, ESV)