One Verse at a Time

This episode looks at Jonah 3:3, “So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth.” We want eyes to see the size of wickedness before God. We also want to obey in calling out to these places according to the exact word God would have for us.

This episode looks at Jonah 3:2, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against [to; see NET Bible] it the message that I tell you.” Jonah is called to bring God’s message to the people of Nineveh. May we have the same heart to only proclaim what God would have us proclaim to the world.

This episode looks at Jonah 3:1, “Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying.” The book restarts here halfway through after Jonah rebelled and God saved him. We praise God for how he gave Jonah a second chance, Peter a second chance, and all of us second chances.

This episode looks at Colossians 4:1, “Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”

This episode looks at Colossians 3:25, “For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.” God does not show partiality based on status (master/slave), economy (rich/poor), or ethnicity (white/black/etc.). This should caution us against doing wrong, and it should comfort us that wrongdoers will receive due justice in time.

This episode looks at Colossians 3:24, “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” The grounds for our obedience and hard work is that we have a new identity (son/daughter of God). In this identity, we know we will receive a future inheritance. We don’t work to earn the inheritance, but instead we work with our eyes fixed on that inheritance.

This episode looks at Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Paul subverts the servant-master relationship by telling servants they first serve God alone. This is what makes them work hard, not their masters. May we do this in our own workplaces as well.

This episode looks at Colossians 3:22, “Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.” God did not design slavery from the beginning, but he did provide us regulations to avoid mistreatment of servants. Though this slavery was quite different in many ways from American slavery, we still mourn the misuse of texts like this one to abuse others. We also ask God to help us in our work relationships to honor authority and to work well because we have a right relationship with God first.

This episode looks at Colossians 3:21, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” Parents need to have their kids’ courage in mind as they parent. How does my abuse of authority or forsaking of authority cost my kids’ courage in the future? Right use of authority will help our kids face the world with courage.

This episode looks at Colossians 3:20, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” Children under the authority of their parents must obey in all things (however difficult or seemingly unreasonable) insofar as that command does not go contrary to the will of God. Children should do this gladly because they know that God is pleased by their obedience.