Today’s message that comes from Colossians is a lot like what I just studied on my own in Ephesians.
It’s about relationships and is one of the most controversial messages in the Bible. It has been taken out of text, misused, and abused but we will talk about the real meaning of the passage.

So far we’ve discussed all of the first three points and today we will talk about the fourth one.
The practical or the Outward Life in Christ.

1.) Wives should be willing to follow their husbands and husbands be willing to lead; each with the right attitude.

It does not say that wives should be dominated, or sexually abused, or held back by their husbands. Nor does it say wives should disrespect their husbands or ignore their leadership.

However, if the husband is not leading the wife to a relationship with Christ, she is to seek her own. Husbands are to love their wives unconditionally, even when or if they aren’t acting so lovable. They are to protect and nurture their wives. This passage is not about sex or domination of one or the other. It’s about women respecting their men and men loving their wives.

Communication and forgiveness is what makes this relationship work.

2.) Children are to honor and obey their parents. If children obey them it will have a pervasive effect (in the aspect of what is pleasing to God). (3:20)

Exodus 20:12 says:

”Honor your father and mother that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you.”

Fathers do not exasperate your children. Six ways fathers do this are: comparing them to their siblings, saying no always, making all of their decisions, not spending quality time with them, not taking time to understand and listen to them, and berating or yelling at them.

Do not squelch your children’s precious perspective on life! This is discipline; instruction, training, correction.

I have a lot of personal regrets about the way we raised our children. There was division because my parents raised my oldest son. There was comparison because my youngest always strived to please his father but our middle child fought him on everything. We should have been more patient, we should have encouraged teamwork and togetherness more. We should never have let them know we thought more or less of each of them.

I could go on and on, but now I can only pray they find their own way, their own personal relationship with God, and that they succeed in life.

Luckily, I have an excellent relationship with my husband and he with me but I can always be more understanding and supportive of his decisions. I do respect him and try to build him up and he loves me unconditionally.

I have so many medical issues, I used to tease that he should have “traded me in on a new model” a long time ago, but he doesn’t let those get in the way of loving me, even when he doesn’t understand how much pain or suffering I’m going through. He takes care of me, provides for me, and gives me what I need.

How are your relationships going and can you improve? Of course you can, there is always time!

My husband may not watch my church service with me or study the Bible like I am, he’s read the Bible many times. He has a strong faith of his own, but he respects me enough to let me nurture and grow my own relationship with God. As I grow and mature in my relationship with God, I expect he will see more changes in me and we will grow even closer.

My job is also to never give up on my children, but guide them and pray for them that they find God on their own personal journeys. I can’t fix what we didn’t do enough when they were young, but I can pray for them now.