360 Degree Worship

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(Ephesians 6:9) Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that He who is both their Master and yours is in Heaven, and there is no partiality in Him.

O
"The same to them" refers to verses 5-7, where masters (bosses) are to "obey" their subordinates with fear and trembling, sincerely, as though Christ Himself was their employee...as though He was present with each person. Jesus came to earth, demoting Himself of His infinite power and authority. He came not only as a human, but as an infant boy, destined to be a poor servant. He, the Holy One, the righteous and merciful Judge, subjected Himself to human parents and their relatives. He subjected Himself to corrupt judicial, executive, and legislative powers.

A
We can't avoid exercising authority, power or judgment over others. We are served by cashiers when we buy groceries. We learn of people weakened by unemployment or oppression. How do I handle my portions of power and authority? Jesus is all about lifting the down-trodden, strengthening the weak, and encouraging the hopeless...am I?

P
Lord, You revealed Your love to me through people, but I'm slow to recognize Your sovereign works in these people. Your image is visible in the people around me. I resist social strata, but it still exists. You use people above me, beside me, and below me to help me learn about authority. Help me to serve each of them with the same incorruptible love that I have for You (Ephesians 6:23,24).

A Rare Friendship

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(1 Samuel 18:3,4) Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

O
Jonathan, a prince and overtly superior, initiated this deep friendship. He entered into a covenant friendship before God (20:8) that consisted entirely of giving, not gaining. The stripped robe resented transferred authority: David could speak into Jonathan’s life and David represented now Jonathan to the world. The stripped armor represented giving David unguarded access—vulnerability—to all points of Jonathan’s life. The stripped weapons represented Jonathan surrendering his ability to attack or harm David while choosing to be defenseless against David.

A
How rare it is to have such a friend. Even worse, it’s rare to be such a friend. To what extent is my marriage like this? To whom—to what Samaritan in my life—should I covenant such a friendship?

P
Lord, I think receiving this friendship empowered David to go out and be successful wherever Saul sent him (verse 5). You call me to become such a friend to You and to others (Matthew 22:39), but You first demonstrated Your friendship to me (John 15:11-16; see also Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 19:6; 26:6,9,10,17).