Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. – Ephesians 6:5 – 6

For Paul this is an important statement, as he also repeats it in Colossians 3: 23 – 24. I’m sure not many people today think of themselves as slaves, so maybe we should not get hung up on the terminology but on the intent. To set the scene I would like to return to Ephesians 1: 4 ‘For he chose us in him (that is in Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight’. So, if we belong to God through what Jesus as done for us, in paying for our sin, would we not want to honour Him by obeying Him and doing His will here on earth.  

Paul shows us a practical way to honour God by obeying those who have power over us here on earth as if we are obeying God, who sees everything we do. No matter what happens to us, if we are doing God’s will, we will have peace that surpasses understanding.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that as I do everything (particularly at work) as though I am doing it for You, Your name would be honoured and those I work for challenged to seek Your saving grace. 

Sandra Hinrichsen – Creek Road