Paul the apostle was
concerned for the church members in Colosse. He desired that they
live in peace and harmony with one another, and for this to be
possible, they were to relate to one another as though they were
relating to the Lord. They were to do everything they did “as
unto the Lord, and not unto men”, and they would “receive
the reward of inheritance” as they did. In chapter three and
verse twenty-four we discover what Paul said would happen to those
who do “wrong” among them. We read:
But he that does wrong
shall receive for the wrong which he has done:
and there is no
respect of persons.
The
verse begins, “But he that does wrong shall receive for
the wrong which he has done:” In
contrast to those who would live righteously with one another, Paul
uses the disassociation conjunction “But”
to show a difference from “he that does wrong”
or “acts unjustly or wickedly, sins, acts as a criminal,
does hurt, damage or harm”. Paul is certain they “shall
receive” or “obtain, carry off or bear” “for the wrong
which he has done”.
The
verse continues, “ and there is no respect of persons.” As
an added qualifier to those who do “wrong”, Paul
emphasizes “there is no respect of persons” which means
“partiality” from one person to the next. There would be no
division or office among the Colossians which would receive
preferential treatment. Those who did “wrong” among them
would receive for the “wrong” they did regardless of their
social status or ranking.
These
words of Paul can be ominous when we think them over for a while. How
much “wrong” could one person do, and does this mean that
everything “wrong” we do, we shall receive some sort of
judgment for it? We must remember to keep the context of this letter
in mind as we read this verse. Paul is addressing the division that
has been caused by the false-teaching Judaizers and the Gnostics who
were attempting to bring into the church their pernicious doctrines.
These false-teachers divided husbands and wives, children and their
parents, servants and their masters, and this “wrong” was
the most disconcerting and wicked among them. We must attempt to keep
away from wrongdoing, and there is no permission in the Lord's Jesus'
grace to sin willfully and without regard to His way. However, when
we do “wrong” and confess it to Jesus, He is willing to
forgive us and cleanse us from all our sin. First John chapter one
and verse nine says,
If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
Let us
heed the warning of Paul to the Colossians, and remember to bring all
our “wrongs” to the Lord.
Next
time we begin the final chapter in Colossians and Paul shares with
“Masters”,
so read ahead, and
we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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