Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men (Colossians 3:23).

This is an instruction for slaves as they serve their masters, yet is there not a principle that holds true for us, who find ourselves before various "masters" in various settings? Aren't we all called to be servants?

We need to remind ourselves that we are not called to gain the approval of people but to gain the approval of the Lord (cf. Galatians 1:10). The Lord is our ultimate Master, and in whatever way we serve others, this must be subordinate to our service to God. 

Now, as we seek to please the Lord, we will understand how to please others for their good (cf. Romans 15:1); consequently, we will not stoke their egos, nor satisfy their demands, but encourage and edify them in the way of the Lord. 

Friends, when we serve the Lord or preach and teach His Word, we must remember that we are not performing but proclaiming. We are not seeking acclaim for ourselves but acclaim for God. Our purpose is not acceptance nor approval by people. Our purpose is simply to obey God's call to whatever end He desires. This is working heartily as for the Lord rather than men.

We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ (Colossians 1:28).

Friends, some pastors and leaders today only instruct their members to say encouraging things and never anything corrective because, they argue, a critical spirit is unspiritual. Yet, here Paul clearly instructs believers to "admonish" one another. This is an important part of our ministry to one another, so that we might fully mature in Christ. In fact, contrary to arguments that such admonishment divides the church, Paul says that it is what ultimately unites the church:

Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).

Thus, unity of the faith is achieved as each person becomes fully mature in Christ. And each person becomes fully mature in Christ as they are admonished and taught with all wisdom in the community of believers. In other words, there is a perfect standard that all of us comes short of reaching, that is, "the fullness of Christ", and for this reason every believer has both the privilege and obligation to encourage and admonish, to teach, correct, and rebuke one another with all wisdom and instruction. 

Therefore, dear friends, do not elevate a pastor, teacher, or any minister to an incontrovertible platform. If they put themselves on such a platform, fellow believers should gently but firmly pull them down. It is the Word of God alone that takes that spot. And when leaders are found to go contary to the Word or beyond the boundaries of the Word, they too must be corrected and rebuked, even as any fellow believer (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:6). 

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Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve (Colossians 3:23-24). 

We need to be reminded of this every single day. "It is the Lord Christ whom we serve!" Even when we bless our wives, raise our children, labor in our work, and minister to one another, we are to do all these things as though we are doing it for the Lord. For it is from Him alone we will receive our inheritance and our reward, not our wives, not our children, not our bosses, not our workers, not our parents, not our pastors, not even ourselves. Let this reminder drive us to keep Jesus always before our eyes, the chief preoccupation of our minds, and the all-consuming desire of our hearts.

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Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak (Colossians 4:2-4).

This instruction to "devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it" recalls Jesus' instruction to His disciples in the Garden, "Watch and pray." I still wake up to prayer every morning, sometimes shorter and sometimes longer. This is the occasion where I give every thought, every desire, and every forthcoming event of the day to the Lord. Practically speaking, it frees me from every anxiety, focuses my mind on spiritual priorities, and strengthens me against daily temptation.

In addition to daily meditation on God's Word, I heartily recommend this daily and very personal time in prayer. 

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Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person (Colossians 4:5-6).

This is what I try to do in the platforms that God has given me to minister. My chief platforms for ministry at the present time are my family, this website, and the Youn Wha Ryu Martial Arts Organization. The local church was also a platform, but I have been driven out by those that cared more about their personal agendas and interests than the ministry of the Word. I have even been excluded from certain platforms wihin our martial arts organization. But none of these things phase me one bit. I will continue to preach the Gospel and teach the truths of God's Word as God gives me opportunity.

A number of you have encouraged me all along the way, and I praise God for you. As one of you commented to me recently, faithful believers are becoming more and more a minority in our world, even in our churches. So how thankful to God I am for every single voice and every open heart, where I find that kindred spirit, whose love for Christ and devotion to God's Word have kept them from all manner of political, ecclesiastical and peer pressure to deviate from the truth. 

As I pray for all of you, who do this sometimes thankless but faithful work, pray also for me, that God would enlarge my ministry, that He would grant me both boldness and clarity in preaching and teaching His Word, and that God might guard my heart and my body against any and all manner of spiritual and moral compromise. Grace be with you!

The faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. (Colossians 1:5-6).

This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant (Colossians 1:23).

Three times Paul speaks of the Gospel that they heard. It is as if Paul wants to make sure that no one moves them away from the truth of what they heard from him with respect to the Gospel of their salvation. It is the Gospel of God's grace, whereby they have been forgiven of their sins through the blood of Christ, by whom and in whom and for whom are all things in heaven and earth. 

He warns them against "hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." He warns them against those that would judge them by the Law. He warns them against "anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels," who go "into great detail about what they have seen." He rebukes them for submitting to "the elemental spiritual forces of this world," which operate by rules like "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch," but fail in their objective of "restraining sensual indulgence."

In contrast, he reaffirms their position in Christ:

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ..." (Colossians 3:1).
"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God..." (Colossians 3:3).
"Since you have taken off your old self with itse practices... and have put on the new self..." (Colossians 3:9-10).
"Therefore, as God's chosen people..." (Colossians 3:12).
"Since as members of one body..." (Colossians 3:15).
"Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord..." (Colossians 3:24).
"Because you know that you also have a Master in heaven (Colossians 4:1).

Paul's big argument is that faith and spiritual maturity stem from Christ and God's grace. It does not arise from following rules, whether of the Jews or pagans. It does not arise out of mystical experiences and ascetic practices. Every obedience arises out of what God has already accomplished for us through Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, Paul writes,

He [Christ Jesus] is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me (Colossians 1:28-29).

Therefore, dear friends, don't believe every testimony of people talking with Jesus, seeing visions of angels, or getting direct messages from God. Don't participate in dangerous and extra-biblical practices like shouting at the devil, triangulating visions, and following so-called "bondage-breaking" prayers. Rather than going to this or that special place to pray, rather than chasing some sign or prophecy or experience, simply devote yourselves to God's Word (Colossians 3:16-17) and prayer (Colossians 4:2). If you are in Christ, this is all you need to grow in the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you can live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way (Colossians 1:9-10).

Paul writes to the Colossians about living as those who have been made alive in Christ.

(Col 3:1-4)

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

There are several points that jumped out at me from this passage, firstly Paul writes that we are raised with Christ. Paul wants us to know that as Christ has escaped Death so have we - we were dead in our sins, now we are raised in life with Christ. Secondly, he writes that we should set our hearts on things above. Our motives and actions are generally driven from the heart - God is not just interested in our actions but what motivates us. In the story of the prodigal son we often focus on the younger sons disobedience, but while the older son was obedient he wanted what his younger brother wanted - his fathers money. His obedience was not out of love, but greed.

Paul continues that we need to set our mind on things above. A big part of our transformation as Christians is the renewing of the mind. Perspective is so important as Christians - we are constantly at the mercy of time, and our priorities get juggled. When our mind is on the world, our priorities reflect it and when our mind is renewed in Christ our priority is Christ.

Finally, Paul writes that Christ is our life. Living for Christ is a daily commitment of having our hearts on minds focused on God and surrendering our will to His.

Dear brothers and sisters!

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15).

This is the statement that doesn't make any sense when we look through the eyes of "hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world" because our corrupted eyes see cross as the symbol of shameful failure and defeat. When we were dead in sin, how God provided the way of our salvation was not attractive at all and even deterred us from seeking the truth in Christ. IT JUST DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO US! We, however, were mysteriously drawn to the Truth by the grace of God, and that symbol of defeat and failure became the supreme beauty beyond comparison. We neither choose God nor accepted His invitation to the Banquet. We did not find God but rather were found by God who is perfect and does not depend on random chances or our puny efforts or will power to save us. He is truly the Author of our salvation! Praise be to Him forever!

Friends, there is very little that is new in Colossians that is not found in Paul's other epistles, especially in Galatians and Ephesians. In fact, certain portions are almost precise parallels. For example, the mystery of the union of Gentiles and Jews into one body in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-3:13) is summarized in Colossians 1:26-27,

... the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Paul's warning against false teaching (Ephesians 4:14-16) is echoed in Colossians 2:8-10,

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Paul reiterates his argument that Christians are no longer under the Law of Moses in Colossians 2:11-23. Compare, for instance, Ephesians 2:15 with Colossians 2:14

... having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace...

... having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Paul takes this theme further in Colossians. He exhorts them not to allow anyone to judge them by the Law: "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths..." (Colossians 2:16). He reminds them that in Christ they died to and were freed from these very kind of regulations.

Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations... (Colossians 2:20, see also vss. 21-23)

It is likely that Paul adds this additional counsel, because unlike the letter to the Ephesians, which was directed specifically to Gentiles, in Colosse there was historically a sizeable Jewish presence. We are also told that Jewish believers may have gone to Colosse (Colossians 4:10-11). But like the Ephesians, the Colossians were probably a predominantly Gentile church (Colossians 1:27; 3:5-7). And the moral instructions to these Gentile Colossians (Colossians 3:1-17) are very similar to those given to the Gentile Ephesians (Ephesians 4:17-5:21).

His instructions for wives, children, husbands, slaves, and masters (Colossians 3:18-4:1) parallel the same instructions in Ephesians 5:22-6:9.

Just as he requests the Ephesians for prayer with respect to his outreach ministry (Ephesians 6:18-20), he asks the same of the Colossians (Colossians 4:2-5).

I'd like to focus your attention on one particular parallel, which has suffered some confusion. In Ephesians 5:17-20, we read,

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

The parallel in Colossians 3:16-17 reads,

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The two texts follow almost lock-step in parallel in every theme, from being wise, to being filled, to speaking, to singing, and to giving thanks. The one apparent difference seems to be that in the Ephesians passage, Paul commands the believers to be filled with "the Spirit" whereas in the Colossian passage, he commands the believers to be filled with "the word of Christ." I have never heard anyone preach these passages in parallel, although they are clearly parallel. 

Why is this important? It is because there is nowhere else in Scripture where there is a command to be filled with the Spirit except here. Therefore, it is unclear exactly what Paul means by it.

Some have taken it to mean that people should "pray to be filled with the Spirit," or to seek some mystical experience of filling with the Spirit. But is this what the passage is teaching?  In the immediate context of Ephesians 5, Paul writes, "Do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:17). Also, in the explanatory participle that follows the command to be "filled with the Spirit," Paul speaks of speaking (i.e. psalms, hyms, and spiritual songs...), singing and giving thanks. At least by implication, the Word of God is in view. 

When we come to the parallel in Colossians, we find not a reference to the Holy Spirit but to the Word: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." Would it be unreasonable then for us to understand an equivalence between the command to "be filled with the Spirit" and the command to "let the word of Christ dwell in your richly," so that filling with the Spirit can be accomplished by filling oneself with the Word? When everything else is in parallel, couldn't it also be possible that the central command is also in parallel? 

And there are plenty of other Scripture that makes the connection between the Holy Spirit and the Word. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). The Spirit inspires (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16), reminds of (John 14:26), and emboldens the proclamation of, the Word (Acts 4:31). 

Therefore, Spirit filling is not something necesssarily to pray for but something experienced through reading, meditating, studying, and applying the Word of God. Even in Acts 4, when the disciples ask God the Father for boldness, they do not ask to be "filled with the Spirit," but this is the consequence of their applying the Scriptures in their prayer for confidence to declare the Gospel.

Therefore, friends, if you desire to be empowered by the Spirit, there is nothing better than to daily meditate and apply God's Word, allowing God to sovereignly empower you as He sees fit.

Re: Colossians 3

When I was still nursing on the word, I would argue the woman submission part to a cultural comment, rather than God's command.  It took me a few rounds of reading the Bible to notice a pattern of submission, in general.

Jesus to the Father, the Church to Jesus, the people to their government, husbands to Jesus, wives to husbands, children to parents, etc.  These have been true since, the beginning, the Old Testament, and hold throughout the New testament.

When I see myself as a leader, I feel like God is watching waiting to pounce if I leave the law of Christ. When I think of my self as a minister of God's word, I feel like I am racing Paul's marathon - will I have much to throw at Jesus' Feet? When I see myself as a soon-to-be father, I keep looking at myself asking "what example am I making."

Of these, the role as a husband is one that I find is most challenging. I am "not to be harsh" (v19), I am to be like CHRIST (eph 5:25)... Yea right, "Be perfect-like." Then when I am not, I can't hide it. My wife is knowing me better than anyone, more and more, with each day.
It becomes a practice of swallowing my pride, and doing better. While not letting my pride overstep my role and be "too harsh." And not being too timid so as not to be "christ like."
All this, but not being inferior. The value of Jesus is not inferior to the Father, nor the sanctified to the sanctifier, nor the person to the church, the wife to the husband, nor the child to parent. Given different roles but with a value sealed by God's word.

Friends, in Colossians 2:10, we read, "in Him you have been made complete," and in Colossians 1:28, "We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ." As I meditated on these verses, it dawned on me that I already have all of Christ. In Him I am already complete. Therefore, it is theologically incorrect for me to seek more of Christ, as we sing in a popular Christian chorus, which says, "More of You. Jesus, I need more of You." A more theologically correct song would be the Christian chorus entitled "Enough," where the lyrics read "All I have in you is more than enough...More than all I want, More than all I need, You are more than enough for me."

It is not that I need more of Christ, but Christ wants more of me, and I need to be satisfied with what I have of Him in me. Jesus gave His life for me. Jesus gave His righteousness to me. But I am still holding on to my will, my interests, my pursuits, my passions. These are what I must surrender to Him. It is once again that principle of denying myself and taking up my cross and following Him. Therefore, rather than singing, "More of You; Jesus, I need more of You," let us instead sing, More of me; Jesus, I need to give you more of me." And when we look at the message of Colossians 1:28, we realize that giving Christ more of us means that we must strive to be more like Christ, to imitate His life of submission to the Father's will and to love one another as He loved us. In this way we become conformed to the image of Christ.

Believers being complete in Christ is a primary theme of Colossians. Therefore, Paul warns against those who would judge us by the Mosaic Law and traditions. Paul commands, "Don't let them do it" (Colossians 2:16-17). Paul warns against those who would defraud us with their mystical experiences and visions. Paul commands, "Watch out for them" (Colossians 2:18-19). Upon these promises, some try to govern our actions to follow their lead. They may have the appearance of wisdom and spirituality, but they are of no value to us (cf. Colossians 2:23). We are complete in Christ. All we need to do is follow the moral example of Christ, who is our all in all (cf. Colossians 3:11), and obey "the word of Christ," which is our guide into "all wisdom" (cf. Colossians 3:16).