Colossians 3 - Key

v23,24

And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

We should do our work and whatever we do as if we are doing it for the Lord, because He is the one who will ultimate reward us, good or bad.

Application

I'm taking some college classes, so I'll do my school work excellently, as if I was doing it for the Lord Himself.

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Colossians 3 - Outline

v1-9

remove these earthly sins

v9-11

we are new people in Christ

v12-17

put on a new person

v18-21

special instructions for wives, husbands, children, and fathers.

v22-25

servants (and all of us) should serve as to the Lord, realizing that He is the rewarder

"decorating" a beautiful heart

1 Peter 3

v3,4a

Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart...

Women can get very excited (and sometimes even carried away) with decorating themselves, or and trying to make themselves beautiful. Instead of that, they should redirect that same zeal and excitement to having an excellent heart in the sight of God.

"yet for a little season"

Revelation 6

v10,11

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.

Here we see a glimpse, as though through a little window, into something that goes on in heaven. Here we see that these souls, at whatever time this describes, cried with a loud voice. The Lord would listen to them, because they were His servants, and He would value what they said and take revenge on the people who martyred them.

Who were they crying to? O Lord, holy and true. What were they crying for? How long... dost thou not judge and avenge...? They were anxious for the Lord to execute judgment and vengeance on the earth-dwellers. Here was something that was inevitable, and something that would be coming true. The Lord listened to them.

v11a says, ...white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season... The Lord didn't ignore their requests. He responded and did something about it. He gave them something and reassured them that the right thing would happen at the right time--but, at the same time, it seems like He didn't just do exactly what they wanted Him to, right then. Why not? Who did they want the Lord to take revenge on? Them that dwell on the earth.

The Lord is delaying judging us because of His mercy. We still have a chance to repent today, but there's a call in heaven for vengeance, a call that won't be ignored for too long. How long would it be, at this point? Yet for a little season. In the face of this inevitable judgment that the Lord will bring, for which the souls of His servants in heaven are crying with a loud voice, let us be zealous today, to repent.

be serious about repenting from sin

Revelation 6

v4

And there went out another horse [that was] red: and [power] was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

People are going to be killed in the judgment of the four horsemen, and that just makes me think about how we need to be serious about repenting from sin.

Romans 6:23a

For the wages of sin [is] death...

1 Peter 3 - Key 2

v13,14

And who [is] he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy [are ye]: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

I know that these verses, in context, are really talking about suffering for righteousness' sake, but I think we can learn something more general from them, too. I noticed v14b: ...be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. v6b teaches women not to be terrified about things: ...as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement [terror].

Romans 8:31b says, ...If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? We don't have to allow ourselves to be afraid, terrified, or even "troubled", by anything, while we are in Christ.

1 Peter 2 - Key

v23

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:

When Christ was reviled, He didn't revile back. That word for revile also means to reproach, rail at, ... [or] heap abuse upon. When people talk that way to us, we shouldn't talk the same way back.

Application

If I feel like people are talking the wrong way to me, I'll make sure to trust the Lord and not talk the wrong way back.

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