Love, Submission & Obedience

Written By Betty Predmore

COLOSSIANS 3:18 - 4:18

(October 8 )

Paul gives instruction to families in this portion of his letter to the Colossians. He states that wives are to submit to their husbands as they would to the Lord. Husbands are to love their wives and treat them with gentle kindness. Children are to obey their parents. (Still waiting for perfection on this one at my house!). And he urges parents to not discourage their children.

This is all commonsense stuff we have heard time and time again. But apparently, the Colossians needed this reminder. How often do we need to be reminded to be loving and respectful to our spouse? Or patient and kind with our children? Nobody is perfect and we all need those reminders sometimes.

Paul goes on to mention slaves and how they should behave. Paul doesn't condone or condemn slavery but offers the explanation that Christ is bigger than any division between people and being a slave won't keep him from loving you. He advises them to work for their masters the same way they would work for God. His hope is that these masters treat their slaves fairly.

Paul mentions that Aristarchus sends his greetings from prison, and he asks them to make Mark feel welcome. Aristarchus was a Thessalonian who took the third mission trip with Paul and was with him when the riot took place in Ephesus. He then went with Paul to Greece and Rome. At the time of this letter, he was imprisoned with Paul.

Mark started out with Paul and Barnabas on that first missionary trip. For unknown reasons, he left halfway through the trip. Mark was a relative of Barnabas and ended up going on a journey with Barnabas because Paul refused to take him along again. Later he and Paul reconciled, and he went on to write the Gospel of Mark. At this particular time, Paul is expecting that Mark might make his way to the Colossians.

Paul continues with his list of all those who sent greetings to the Colossians, including Epaphras, Luke, and Demas. In turn, he asks that they give his greetings to the believers at Laodicea as well.

Paul wants to pass on these instructions to that church and other believers. He wants them to also be clear on how they should behave when it comes to love, submission, and obedience.

The rules apply to us today. We would do well to really ponder these letters written by Paul and the instructions they provide. Through them, we can get wisdom on how to please God with our actions.

Betty Predmore

Betty Predmore is a writer, blogger, speaker and ministry leaders. She is the founder of Mom-Sense, Inc., a ministry designed for mentorship, connection and service to women of all life circumstances. Through this ministry, women are encouraged and supported with scripture and life application. Mom-Sense helps women overcome life struggles through small group classes with biblical curriculum, individual counseling, bible studies, and other areas of support.

Betty also directs the Imperial Valley Life Center, which is a non-profit faith-based pro life women’s resource center. She has a passion for saving the unborn and supporting mothers through pregnancy and motherhood.

Betty loves to speak at events, sharing the love of Jesus with other women. She does this through practical life application mingled with God’s word, and sprinkled with humor. Having experienced a broken home, divorce, abuse, grief, single motherhood, blended families, and adoption, she uses the broken places and movement of God in her own life to share His word in an inspiring way. She enjoys sharing her blogs on social media as a way of reaching out on a broader spectrum. Betty has many speaking topics which can be found on her website: www.bettypredmore.com

As an author, she has had the opportunity to impact women and reach deep into their hearts with her words of inspiration and encouragement. Through Pondering Virtue and Whispered Grace, she has created wonderful tools for the woman who is seeking direction in her spiritual walk.

Betty serves on the writing team of A Wife Like Me, and is also a contributor to Moms Encouraging Moms and Gift of Thorns. Her blogs have appeared in several magazine publications throughout the years including Southern Faith Magazine, Purposeful Life, and Aspiring Woman Magazine.

While Betty thrives on her ministry opportunities, her greatest blessings come from being a wife to Jim and a mama to their wonderful collection of children, who bring joy, laughter, and an occasional tear to her days.


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