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m your hearts.” We greatly need in these days hearts that are full of song and this tells how to have them. Further still, this singing will be not merely to please men, but “ unto God” (R. V.). TUESDAY, Dec. 10. Col. 3:17. Now Paul gives us by the Spirit a very comprehensive rule of life: “ And whatsoever (literally, “ everything what soever” ) ye do, in word or in deed, do all (rather, all things) in the name of the Lord Jesus” (cf. 1 Cor. 10:31). The meaning is plain, do not do one single thing “ in word or in deed,” do not speak one single word or perform one single act that you cannot do “ in the name of the Lord Jesus.” And moreover, when you do a thing that you can do in the name of the Lord Jesus be sure that you actually do it in His name. How many puzzling questions as to what is permissible this rule that the Holy Spirit here gives us settles. And with all our doing we must not forget to give “ thanks to God the Father through Him (i. e.,' through Jesus Christ)” (cf. Eph. 5:20? Phil. 4:6.). Thanks should be rendered to “ God the Father,” they should be rendered “ through Him,” i. e., the Lord Jesus. All approach to God by sinful man, either in worship, prayer or thanksgiving, must be through Jesus Christ, who made atonement for our sins (cf. John 14:6; Heb. 10:19; Eph. 2:18; 5:20; Heb. 13:15). WEDNESDAY, Dec. 11. ..Col. 3:18-21. Paul now passes on (as he ddes also in Ephesians in speaking of the Spirit filled life— cf. Eph. 5:18-21, 22; 6:1-9), to speak of the. reciprocal duties of husbands and wives, parents and chil dren, servants and masters. The wife’s place is the place of subordination, not inferiority. The husband should take the lead. This is “ fitting in the Lord.” Anything else is most unfitting, unnat ural, monstrous, contrary to God’s will as clearly revealed in the Word and in nature (See this subject discussed at length in Eph. 5:22-33 and our Notes on those verses), “ Husbands” on their part have an obligation toward their wives that goes far deeper and demands greater sacrifice, and if husbands would only meet their revealed obligations it would be very easy for the wives to meet their revealed obligations.' “ Hus bands” must “ love” their “ wives,” and they must show that they love them
by not being “ bitter against them.” How many husbands there are who demand the obedience of their wives which the Bible prescribes but with a “ bitter” assertion óf authority,' and then wonder why it is their wives do not obey. Why do you not obey1Col. 3:19? Then your wife would obey Col. 3:18. Y. 19 contains a good household rule for all the relationships of thq home: “ Be not bitter.” As to children, they should “ obey” their "parents” “ in all things.” The only possible limita tion to the “ all fhings” is when the parent commands what the Supreme Parent forbids (cf. Eph. 6:1, “ in the Lord” ). This absolute obedience of children to parents is “ well pleasing,” i. e., “ well pleasing” to God. But it is only “ in the Lord” (R. V.) that it is “ well pleasing.” Nothing is well pleas ing to God unless it be “ in the Lord.” “ Fathers” (and this according to Greek usage includes mothers also) have their obligation toward the children. The obligation of fathers and mothers toward the children is not to “ provoke” their “ children,” i. e. not to provoke their children by unreasonable demands, by an overbearing assertion of author ity, or by nagging, or by any absence of tenderness and love. The result of provoking our children will be that they will be “ discourafged,” give up trying to obey, and most likely be lost forever. Many a “ provoking” parent has sent his child to an eternal hell. THURSDAY, Dec. 12. Col. 3:22-24. What Paul here says of the duties of Christian servants toward their masters and of Christian masters toward their servants, is much the same that he says in Eph.. 6:5-9 ; and yet it is quite' dif ferent, it is no mere copy but an entirely original message and evidently inspired of God. There are in it thoughts of great value that are peculiar to it. The “ servants” of the passage are, of course, “bond servants” (R. V. Margin) or slaves, but all that is said applies equally well to servants and masters in the modern relations of servants and masters. The human master is only thè master “ according to the flesh,” in that which is outward and temporary. The master “ according to the Spirit” is Jesus, and He only (cf. Acts 10:36). Nevertheless the master “ according to the flesh” must be obeyed in all things. But this service is to be offered not to him but “ unto the Lord.” Every Chris-
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