Most of us eat every day, some of us too much, because yesterday's
food is not enough to supply energy for today's needs. Why then, do
some of us expect yesterday's portion of heavenly manna the word of God to keep
us through today's challenges. On this program, we are going to change all
that. Let's experience God's words today and receive the power we need to live
healthy, vibrant lives. Welcome to Your Daily Portion with your host, author
speaker L. David Harris. Good morning, Good morning, Good morning.
It is Thursday, September seven, twenty twenty three. Hello, my name
is L. David Harris. I am your host, and this is your
Daily Portion where we give you God's word every single day, and today is
no exception. We are continuing in our lesson study series through the Book of
Ephesians, and our caption for today is masters who are Slaves? Masters who
are Slaves. We'll get into that in just a moment, but first I'd
like to say welcome to everyone joining us, especially those joining for the very
first time. Please go over to your Daily Portion dot com join our online
community, and also please click the share button let people know that they can
go there and join as well. It is a way for us to build
faith and fellowship. And also please pick up the Your Daily Portion Christian Living
book there and let me know where you are in the world at your Daily
Portion dot com. Let's go ahead and pray and then we will get underway.
Father in Heaven, thank you for giving us the privilege of coming together
again in your word. I pray that you will give us understanding and that
we will be able to apply these principles to our lives today. In Jesus
name, I pray, Amen and Amen again. Masters who are slaves?
And you have already if you've been listening or watching, you know that I
am contemporizing the discussion here because it's more applicable to us. In some cultures.
Master and slave is just such a triggering concept, and really it's not
applicable to most of us, and so we contemporize it so we can get
the principles that we can use every single day. And so there are some
modern insights that we need to really consider. One really that transcends time.
I should have said this before, but on planet Earth right that we all
must recognize, pardon me, that we are responsible to God we are responsible
to God. That means that if we are responsible to God, we must
yield our will to him, knowing whether we are employers or employees, whether
we are workers or bosses, whether we own a company or work for a
company, all of us us, all of us are accountable to God.
Can I just say that there are certain ways that we will treat one another
knowing that we're accountable to God. There are certain things we will and will
not say or do, knowing that God is watching, and that God is
the one who is in charge of everything we see and cannot see, because
He is of course the creator of the universe. And so the first thing
I want to focus on is universal equality. Now we have said that before,
but I just want to focus again. Every individual, regardless of position
or title, holds equal value. In Galatians chapter three, in verse twenty
eight, the Bible reads, there is neither June nor Greek. There is
neither bond nor free. There is neither male nor female, for ye are
all one in Christ. This is of course referencing those who come into the
faith community of God. And beyond that, though, beyond that, everyone
who's ever been created by God. And that would be every human being must
know that we were created in his image and in his likeness, and we
have responsibilities and privileges just for borrowing his breath. And part of that is
to recognize that we have equality. Number two leadership accountability. So leaders,
whether you're a boss or a manager, or an owner, whatever it is,
leaders leaders in any setting are accountable to God and ethical standards, and
should lead with integrity. From Romans chapter fourteen, in verse twelve, the
Bible reads, so then every one of us shall give an account to him
of himself to God. God is watching. This is not a fearful thing
necessarily that we should face with foreboding. But know that all of us will
stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Know that God sees and knows even
the intents of our hearts. So when we are leading, we need to
know that God is holding us accountable. Number three foster respectful, pardon me,
respectful environments. In professional and personal relationships, we need to ensure that
all of our interactions are grounded in mutual respect. We're going to hear this
over and over again because some people have lost sight of that, and the
Bible says in Luke chapter six and verse thirty one. And as ye would
that men should do to you, do ye also to them Likewise. Some
people call this the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them
do unto you. And so in our work environments we need to show mutual
consideration and mutual respect. Now from an authoritative perspective. Number four, promote
fair treatment, whether in workplaces or in homes. Prioritize just and compassionate treatment.
In Micah, chapter six and verse eight, the Bible reads, he
hath showed thee, O man, what is good? And what doth the
Lord require of thee? But to do justly? That's holiness. By the
way, righteousness In the Bible, justice and righteousness are almost one hundred percent
of the time synonymous. But to do justly and to love mercy, and
to walk humbly before our God. Number five teamwork and collaboration, recognizing everyone's
unique gifts and talents. And let me just add, as a coach,
I think about behavior styles as well. Like all of these things, we
need to recognize the value and contribution that promotes a spirit of collective achievement.
Part of what sets certain predators. And I hate to use this exact ample.
But predators exist right apart from others, like a lion. It's supposedly
the king of the jungle, right, yeah, But lions function by themselves.
When you have an opportunity, I want you to look up the African
wild dog and see how much more successful they are because of them coming together.
Coming together. So teamwork and collaboration is key. In First Corinthians,
chapter seven and verse twenty two, the Bible reads, for he that is
called in the Lord being a servant is a freeman in the Lord. Likewise,
also he that is called being free is Christ's servant. So all of
us, as Christ's servants, bring our value, bring our contributions, not
as robots, not as stamps or dead stamps of somebody else's mind set,
not as being subjugated by somebody else's will, but as unique, free and
moral agents. We make our contribution with teamwork. Number six, Impartiality is
key. So we want to avoid, like the plague, all biases in
decision making. Now some of you are saying all biases, Dave, I
know that you can probably come up with some unique situation and pin me down
and say what about this one? And maybe I would agree right, But
you understand where I'm going with this. Evaluate situations and people based upon merit
and not status. Can I say that again, evaluate situations and people based
upon merit and not status. And the Bible reads in Romans chapter two in
verse eleven, for there is no respect of person. Yes, it has
a context, but God is saying, don't treat someone better because you think
they're better and someone else worse because you think they're worse, or because you
think you can get something out of someone, like some benefit, then treat
them better, and the others you just kind of throw away. No,
God is saying he is no respecter of persons, and therefore we need to
be impartial as well. Let me just give you one more cherish personal freedom
and growth. Everyone deserves opportunities for personal and professional development, transcending limiting beliefs
or barriers. God has given us freedom. He has given us the opportunity
to build and to grow, and everybody needs to know this, whether we're
workers or employers. Peace. Thanks for joining us listening. Friends. Always
remember we cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from
the mouth of God. This has been your daily portion with l David Harris,
make it a great day.