OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONAL 19TH MARCH 2024 TUESDAY ODB MESSAGE
TOPIC: Master in Heaven [Our Daily Bread Devotional 19th March 2024]
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Joshua 1–3; Mark 16
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:22-4:1(NIV)
3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
4:1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
KEY VERSE: Masters, treat your servants considerately. Be fair with them. Don’t forget for a minute that you, too, serve a Master—God in heaven. Colossians 4:1 the message
TODAY’S INSIGHT
Slavery was an integral part of the Roman economy in Paul’s day. In Colossians 3:22–4:1, Paul calls for slaves to serve honorably and to do so “with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord” (v. 22). This verse has tragically been abused by those wishing to defend the terrible practice of slavery. But we read in the book of Philemon that Paul sent the escaped slave Onesimus back to his owner Philemon with a letter telling the slave owner to receive him “no longer as a slave, but . . . as a dear brother” (Philemon 1:16).
The letter says, “Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask” (v. 21). What more could Philemon do than to give Onesimus his freedom? Paul’s goal wasn’t societal revolution, it was the transformation of each heart.
Our Daily Bread Devotional 19th March 2024 MESSAGE
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower announced in 2022 that all migrant domestic workers must be given at least one rest day a month that employers couldn’t compensate them for instead of giving them the day off. Employers, however, were concerned they wouldn’t have someone to care for their loved ones on those days. While the logistics of caregiving could be solved by making alternative arrangements, their attitude in not seeing the need for rest wasn’t as easy to solve.
Treating others considerately isn’t a new issue. The apostle Paul lived in a time where servants were seen as the property of their masters. Yet, in the last line of his instructions to the church on how Christlike households should operate, he says that masters are to treat their servants “justly” (Colossians 4:1 esv). Another translation says, “Be fair with them” (the message).
Just as Paul tells the servants to work “for the Lord, not for human masters” (3:23), he reminds the masters also of Jesus’ authority over them: “you also have a Master in heaven” (4:1). His purpose was to encourage the Colossian believers to live as those whose ultimate authority is Christ. In our interaction with others—whether as an employer, employee, in our homes or communities—we can ask God to help us do what’s “right and fair” (v. 1).
REFLECT: When haven’t you treated someone fairly? In your work or home, what changes will you make to treat others considerately?
PRAY: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for times when I don’t treat others fairly. Help me to submit to You as the Master of my life.
Our Daily Bread Devotional 19th March 2024 Tuesday ODB Message. Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread. our daily bread devotional for today audio our daily bread booklet.
READ MORE TOPICS: OPEN HEAVENS, OUR DAILY BREAD, IN TOUCH, SEEDS OF DESTINY, STREAMS OF JOY, JOEL OSTEEN, MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE, DCLM DAILY MANNA, UCB WORD FOR TODAY