I long to make gaining Christ the first priority in my life. Not finding myself, or righteousness for myself, but precisely what Paul speaks of: 'To be found in Him, not with my own righteousness, which comes from the law, but with that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God through faith.' The Lord gives us everything in this world, including life itself; would it not be natural...
I long to make gaining Christ the first priority in my life. Not finding myself, or righteousness for myself, but precisely what Paul speaks of: 'To be found in Him, not with my own righteousness, which comes from the law, but with that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God through faith.' The Lord gives us everything in this world, including life itself; would it not be natural, in gratitude and praise to the Creator, to open ourselves to His presence? More than that—to seek Him and call upon Him continually, so that in the joy of being with Him we may 'know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and participation in His sufferings, becoming conformed to His death'? And Jesus, with the same love with which He speaks to the sinful woman (see Jn 8:11), will speak to us too, gradually revealing what we are able to take in.
And what is all this for? The joy of sensing God's presence that is available to us on earth conveys only a small part of what will be after the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 2:9). If only because we will be able to stand beside Him and hold His hand…
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6:1 Children, obey your parents - In all things lawful. The will of the parent is a law to the child. In the Lord - For his sake.For this is right - Manifestly just and reasonable.
6:2 Honour - That is, love, reverence, obey, assist, in all things.The mother is particularly mentioned, as being more liable to be slighted than the father. Which is the first commandment with a promise - For the promise implied in the second commandment does not belong to the keeping that command in particular, but the whole law. Exo 20:12
6:3 That thou mayest live long upon the earth - This is usually fulfilled to eminently dutiful children; and he who lives long and well has a long seed - time for the eternal harvest. But this promise, in the Christian dispensation, is to be understood chiefly in a more exalted and Spiritual sense.
6:4 And, ye fathers - Mothers are included; but fathers are named, as being more apt to be stern and severe. Provoke not your children to wrath - Do not needlessly fret or exasperate them.But bring them up - With all tenderness and mildness. In the instruction and discipline of the Lord - Both in Christian knowledge and practice.
6:5 Your masters according to the flesh - According to the present state of things: afterward the servant is free from his master.With fear and trembling - A proverbial expression, implying the utmost care and diligence. In singleness of heart - With a single eye to the providence and will of God.
6:6 Not with eye - service - Serving them better when under their eyethan at other times. But doing the will of God from the heart - Doing whatever you do, as the will of God, and with your might.
6:7 Unto the Lord, and not to men - That is, rather than to men; and by making every action of common life a sacrifice to God; having an eye to him in all things, even as if there were no other master.
6:8 He shall receive the same - That is, a full and adequate recompence for it.
6:9 Do the same things to them - That is, act toward them from the same principle. Forbearing threatening - Behaving with gentleness and humanity, not in a harsh or domineering way.