Col 4 What a price to Pay? Yes true, it is high...

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.

Colossians 4:1-18 -
1You slave owners must be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.
An Encouragement for Prayer
2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3Don't forget to pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to preach about his secret plan—that Christ is also for you Gentiles. That is why I am here in chains. 4Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.
Paul's Final Instructions and Greetings
7Tychicus, a much loved brother, will tell you how I am getting along. He is a faithful helper who serves the Lord with me. 8I have sent him on this special trip to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 9I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and much loved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will give you all the latest news.
10Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas's cousin. And as you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. 11Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish Christians among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!
12Epaphras, from your city, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident of the whole will of God. 13I can assure you that he has agonized for you and also for the Christians in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14Dear Doctor Luke sends his greetings, and so does Demas. 15Please give my greetings to our Christian brothers and sisters F12 at Laodicea, and to Nympha and those who meet in her house.
16After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them. 17And say to Archippus, "Be sure to carry out the work the Lord gave you."
18Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—PAUL. Remember my chains. May the grace of God be with you.
FOOTNOTES: F12: Greek brothers.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation

~ Lena’s Journalin’~
This is written from the true heart of the Father God. The Lord may cause man to rule over men, and culture and times may even have men in position over those who are enslaved (not always because the men enslaved them necessarily, but because they are enslaved- i.e. prisoners, or people who are bound in sin even). It is not the ruler’s portion to punish and condemn. Our portion, as men, is as stewards of the souls that ultimately belong to God, we lead them to righteousness. Yes they are living in the consequences of their sins, but we don’t have to “rub it in”. They can serve their time as unto the Lord, giving their life’s service in great appreciation to Him, for they can know all He gave for them.
Even parents, must know their position of parenting is before God as stewards of the spiritual souls 1st. Above any physical or mental training, the stewardship of the spirit-man is the number one.
Why do you think there’s so much confusion and such walls up against the message of the gospel? It started at home. What messages were preached there, or not preached? IF a parent raises their child as stewards of the message of the Lordship of Christ, the struggle would be removed. We who preach go into ungoverned homes and right the wrong rule. This is a root work. It is hard work, because it is the work of the hidden root systems, it is trench work, there must be a breakthrough. That breaking through will only come through prayer.
The #1 requirement of any parent before God is spiritual stewardship. When a person has a child, that person has taken on the responsibility of the stewardship of saving that human soul. If physical or mental domineering takes away from that, we’ve been unjust and unfair to that which is entrusted to us. We will all give an account for how well we each led others to Christ. Especially those of our own household. Most of a parents or a caregiver’s domineerance should be vented in spiritual warfare against the enemies of their household in prayer and in the spirit, loving the humans with an unconditional love. For it is the goodness of God that leads men to repent. A man’s rule, a woman’s rule as a parent need s to start above the rooftops of the home, before the enemies try to get inside. If they see evidence of invasion, they fight and war in prayer, in the spirit and kick the enemies out of the house!
Because of the bondages men are under, other men suffer willingly, to free them. In this passage I see many forms of suffering for the gospel message to be brought to others who are suffering, though they may not have physical chains on them. Those who count Him worthy are wiling ot wear physical chains that those who wear spiritual ones may go free. I see the cost of earning freedom for others, and the price these men, by revelation of His great love, are willing to pay.
"Be sure to carry out the work the Lord gave you."
At what expense though? How much does it cost, how much will it cost me personally? On your knees you’ll get to the place you can see the price that was paid and you’ll see yours is only a portion no matter how large it seems. You can’t really see it in any other position. It’s the knees and on the face that one can see this deeply into the heart of God.

Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.