Tips for Kids and Their Dads
1Children, do what your parents say. [1] Jesus wants you to obey them. It’s the right thing to do. 2Treat your father and mother with respect. In case you didn’t know, it’s the first of the Ten Commandments that comes with a promise.3Here’s the promise. You should respect your parents “so life will treat you kindly, and you’ll live a long time in the land.” [2] 4As for you fathers, don’t antagonize your kids. Don’t treat them so unfairly that you get them angry. Teach them. And when necessary, discipline them. But do both as though Jesus is doing it.
Survival Guide for Slaves and Their Masters
5Slaves, do what your slave masters tell you to do. Shake with fear about it. What you do for your masters, do with all the sincerity you can muster. Treat their request as though it’s coming from the Messiah. 6Don’t put on a fake show for them by giving them your best only when they’re watching. Give them your best all the time. Work as though you’re slaves of the Messiah, doing what God wants you to do. 7Work up some energy and genuine excitement about what you’re doing. Here’s how to do it: think of yourself as working for Jesus, not for some human.8Know this. When people do something good, the Lord not only sees it but will reward them, whether they’re slave or free. 9Slave masters, treat your slaves with the devotion I just told them to give to you. Stop threatening them. I want you to know this, and don’t have any doubt about it: you and your slaves have the same Master. He’s in heaven. And by the way, he doesn’t show favoritism.
Suit Up for Battle
10I’m going to close with this. Grow your spiritual muscles from the nourishing strength of the Lord. 11Strap on all of God’s spiritual armor. You’ll need it to fight the devil’s tactics.12We’re not fighting flesh-and-blood humans. We’re fighting otherworldly beings. These are spiritual forces: leaders, authorities, and rulers of spiritual darkness and evil in the heavenly dimension. 13Suit up into every piece of God’s armor. You’ll need it if you want to do everything possible to stand your ground on the day evil comes calling. 14Do it. Stand your ground. Strap the belt of truth around your waist and tug it tight. Protect your chest with the body armor of spiritual integrity. [3] 15Slip on boots of the good news of peace, to help keep you on your feet. 16You’ll need the shield of faith too. Its heavy armor will protect you from deadly flying objects and from your main enemy, Satan. [4] 17Don’t forget your helmet of salvation. And take the sword that the Spirit forged for you: the word of God.
