IN CHRIST: Walking Every Day

Ephesians 5:22 CSB

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord,

INTRO—

Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk…why? Why??

Thursday, I was at NCS for chapel and my CG for the Junior guys. The speaker mentioned an historic date I will never forget—January 28, 1986. I was a nearly 16 year old high schooler home that day because I was sick. I woke up late and came in to turn on the TV. I saw the Space Shuttle in what I thought was a delayed live broadcast of the launch…but soon saw on the screen the now tragic image of the Challenger explosion. The ensuing investigation discovered that the issue were weather and other factors which to the failed integrity of the O-ring. Our speaker, an area Youth Minister, is also USAF retired. He shared with us the three core values of the Air Force—the first of which is: integrity first (followed by service before self; and excellence in all we do). He said that when he asked one of his senior officers, “Why integrity first?” The officer said, “Because anything built on a foundation which lacks integrity will fail.”

I think that Paul understood the importance of integrity first for our lives (walk, witness) as Christ followers. This fact motivated him to fully proclaim the importance that THE God-honoring life can only be found and accomplished IN CHRIST. That in-Christ life has significant identifiers which show up in our “everyday” lives.

Let me start by reminding us that an Integrity First Walk requires this mindset…

Ephesians 5:21 “submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.”

…requires this mindset for three key areas of our lives every day.

((Walking Every Day…))

IN MARRIAGE [Ephesians 5.22-33]

[[I know not everyone here is married (especially our teens…). I encourage you to listen in, because I believe that you also will find encouragement for your daily life here.]]

WIVES [5.22-24, 33b]

Submission to husband—as to the Lord. [[actual word only in vv. 21, 24a (the spotlight there being on the church); submission more significant when we realize we are equal before God in many other ways—business/workplace, political, etc.; A STRONG WORD ABOUT ABUSE HERE!!! UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PASSAGE WILL NEVER BE ACCEPTED AS ‘YOU MUST PUT UP WITH ABUSE.’ (AND, if you get put out with this reminder here…you are part of the problem!!!!!!!)]]

1 Peter 3:1 “In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live”

“Own husbands”…and not every man in every situation. [‘example’ with another lady at church today; I know some who teach this…which the Bible itself does not affirm.]

As the church has a head ultimately responsible for what must be done, etc. …so also the home has a head responsible (for in our case, ‘leadership’ is sooo much more responsibility than it is authority) for what must be done.

HUSBANDS [5.25-33a]

Love your wives—as Christ loved the church. [[Love=AGAPE; to the point Jesus gave EVERYTHING—his life, AAANNNDD his position/privilege (emptied himself taking the form of a bondservant Php 2.7)]]

Colossians 3:19 “Husbands, love your wives and don’t be bitter toward them.”

“Bitter”— Harsh, Critical, Overbearing

Our love needs (must) be as unconditional (no prerequisites of worthiness) as Jesus’ love for his church. Period.

THE “FOR ALL” PARTS = Submission & Love!!

“To sum up”…Ephesians 5:33 “To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.”

((Walking Every Day…))

WITH FAMILY [Ephesians 6.1-4]

[[Primary scope here is Parents and Children; the extension to family is pretty logical; what if I’m not a parent, etc…that’s why I’d say again, ‘Keep tuned in,’ also…all of us are someone’s child, grandchild, cousin, etc.]]

CHILDREN [6.1-3]

Obey your parents—in the Lord [for the record, hupotosso IS different than hupakouo!!; Obey…honor (= ‘respect’) shows us a lifetime perspective—which, I admit, comes with challenges]

Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

Obedience “in the Lord” // “as to the Lord.” [It’s not if they are Christians, but that as Christians, we do… . [A STRONG WORD ABOUT ABUSE HERE!!! UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PASSAGE WILL NEVER BE ACCEPTED AS ‘YOU MUST PUT UP WITH ABUSE.’]

PARENTS [6.4; Fathers]

Bring up your children—in the training & admonition of the Lord [Parents are not to be oppressive overlords (that was the general practice of the day ‘in Rome;’ the emphasis to parents—teach your children the way of wisdom…God’s way…(yes, authority is needed…again emphasis is placed on responsibility)]

Deuteronomy 6:4–7 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” [“The Shema;” Parents—love God ourselves and then intentionally pass that along to our children (families)]

Parents, provide your family (kids) with the safe space they need to grow up…with godly guidance all along the way.

((Walking Every Day…))

AT WORK [Ephesians 6.5-9]

[[While the forms of slavery, bond-servitude varied—from conquered nations to indentured servitude—and there certainly were injustices in the system…the parallels to a contemporary working environment are the best focus for us today; for the record…chattel, race-based slavery has always been and will be evil in the sight of God.]]

SLAVES/BOND SERVANTS [6.5-8]

Obey masters—as you would Christ [work the same way no matter who is/not watching; set the best example..for bosses AND co-workers]

Colossians 3:22 “Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.” [Work wholeheartedly…pretty much sums it up]

[HERE, TOO, A WORD…THE COMMAND TO OBEY MASTERS IS NEVER TO BE SEEN AS REQUIRING ACCEPTING, TOLERATING, EXCUSING ABUSIVE, PREDATORY BOSSES; Difficult, arrogant, dismissive bosses are one thing…and should never be used as an excuse to not work wholeheartedly.]

MASTERS [6.9]

Treat slaves righteously—knowing God is the Master of us all [THE LORD is Lord of all; AND all have value to him]

Colossians 4:1 “Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.” [Bosses/Supervisors are to be people of justice…I mean, since God is just]

The warnings of temptations to ‘lord it over others’ as a boss or supervisor do not negate the acknowledgement that bosses/supervisors/owners (of the business) must hold workers accountable.

CONCL—

Walking every day as people with a God-honoring, Integrity First mindset…is a blessing—and a challenge!

Being part of one of the greatest fighting forces in history (USAF…US military), brings with it a great sense of pride and honor in fulfilling a call to duty.

Being a part of the Body of Christ…the greatest ‘organization’ ever created [I mean, by the Creator himself!], brings the greatest sense of honor and gratitude known to anyone, anywhere…EVER!

The everyday (day-to-day; daily; regular…)—thankful that in God’s great faithfulness, his mercies are new every morning. His mercy and grace provide us what we need for walking…for life. ALL OF THIS MERCY AND GRACE is ours because of Jesus’ mighty work through the cross…to the resurrection…

…Which we remember through partaking of the Lord’s Supper together…

INVITATION:

Salvation

With Family

Lord’s Supper

LORD’S SUPPER:

BREAD

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.””

CUP

1 Corinthians 11:25 “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.””

CONCLUSION

1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Ephesians 6:9 CSB

And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.