Ephesians 6:5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
The theme continues to be willing submission to authority. Just as wives are to respect their husbands and children their parents, bondservants were to willingly put themselves under the authority of the head of the household. This was not merely for show, but with sincerity of heart. As with the previous two paragraphs, there is and understanding that this is part of God's will and God's way for the church to make an impression on the world by demonstrating what Christ has done and is doing in the lives of believers. One again, there is also and understanding that believers who are in authority are to demonstrate change in their lives through Christ as well. There is no place for bullies in the church, and as we go out into the world we must behave consistently. We are to look to Christ as servant and Lord as our example and follow Him and His way of doing things. When we fail to do so it causes disruption in the home and the church, robbing God of the glory due His name.
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