QT 03/09/2026 Thu Ephesians 6 More Than a Job: Serving Christ at Work and At Home. 不仅仅是一份工作：在职场和家庭中服侍基督。

QT 03/09/2026 Thu Ephesians 6 More Than a Job: Serving Christ at Work and At Home.
READ https://www.esv.org/Ephesians+6

What makes a Christian truly successful? Is it our position, power, or performance? Ephesians 6 reveals the answer: victory comes when we become strong in the Lord and put on the whole armor of God. No matter our role in life, we can stand firm because our strength comes from Him.

The gospel transforms every area of life, beginning at home. After teaching about the relationship between husbands and wives (Ephesians 5:22–33), Paul turns his attention to children and parents. The family is one of God's primary places for displaying the beauty of the gospel.

(1) Parent / Children Relationship

Paul begins with a command to children: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right" (Ephesians 6:1). Obedience is not merely a cultural expectation but God's design for the family. It is an expression of submission to the Lord. When children obey their parents in matters that honor Christ, they learn humility, respect for God's authority, and trust in His wisdom.

Paul then quotes the fifth commandment: "Honor your father and mother" (Ephesians 6:2). While obedience is especially expected during childhood, honouring parents is a lifelong responsibility. Adult children may no longer live under their parents' authority, but they are still called to treat them with love, gratitude, dignity, and respect. God attaches a promise to this commandment: "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land" (Ephesians 6:3). Although this is not a guarantee of earthly prosperity or longevity for every individual, it reflects God's blessing upon those who walk in His ways.

Paul then addresses fathers, who bear primary responsibility for the spiritual leadership of the home. "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). Parents must avoid harshness, inconsistency, favoritism, neglect, or unreasonable demands that discourage their children. Instead, they are to nurture them with patient discipline, loving correction, and faithful instruction from God's Word.

Christian parenting is far more than raising well-behaved children. It is about pointing sons and daughters to Jesus Christ. Parents cannot save their children, but they are called to faithfully teach the Scriptures, model genuine faith, pray for them, and lead them to the Saviour. A Christ-centred home is one where both truth and grace are evident, reflecting the character of our Heavenly Father.

REFLECTION
If you are a child, obey and honor your parents as an act of obedience to Christ. If you are a parent, raise your children with love, wisdom, and biblical instruction, always pointing them to the gospel. May every Christian home become a place where Christ is honored, His Word is treasured, and the next generation is encouraged to know and follow Him.

(2) Master / Servant Relationship

Paul begins with bondservants: "Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ" (Ephesians 6:5). Paul does not merely address outward actions; he addresses the heart. Christian service is not motivated only by human approval, rewards, or recognition. Believers are called to work with sincerity because their ultimate Master is Christ.

Paul continues: "Not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart" (Ephesians 6:6). The temptation to work hard only when someone is watching is common to human nature. However, followers of Christ are called to integrity. Our true audience is not merely our employer, supervisor, or colleagues. We serve the Lord who sees the heart and rewards faithfulness.

Paul reminds believers that every act of faithful service matters to God: "Whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord" (Ephesians 6:8). No act of obedience done for Christ is insignificant. Even ordinary tasks become meaningful when they are performed with a heart devoted to God.

Paul then addresses masters: "Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening" (Ephesians 6:9). Those with authority are also under authority—the authority of God Himself. Christian leadership is never an excuse for pride, exploitation, or harshness. Leaders must treat others with justice, dignity, and compassion, remembering that they have a Master in heaven who shows no partiality.
The message of Ephesians 6:5–9 is clear: Christ is the true Master of every believer. Whether we serve or lead, we are called to reflect His character. Our worth does not come from our position, title, or status, but from belonging to Christ.

REFLECTION
Do you work only for human recognition, or do you serve as unto the Lord? Do you use authority for personal gain, or do you lead with humility and grace? Whatever role God has given you, live faithfully before Him. Serve Christ wholeheartedly, because He sees, He knows, and He is the One who ultimately rewards His faithful servants.

Regardless of our role in life—child or parent, employee or employer, husband or wife—we all face the same spiritual battle. Therefore, he gives this command: "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might" (Ephesians 6:10). The Christian life cannot be lived by human determination alone. Our strength comes from God, who empowers His people to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

This victory becomes a daily reality as we "put on the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11). God provides every piece of armour we need: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Paul concludes by urging believers to pray at all times, remaining alert and persevering in faith.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us everything we need in Christ. Teach us to rely not on our own strength but on the power of Your might. Help us put on the whole armor of God, stand firm in faith, and honor You in every role and responsibility You have given us. May our lives reflect the victory and grace of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

QT 03/09/2026 星期四  以弗所书 6 不仅仅是一份工作：在职场和家庭中服侍基督。
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/eph/6/

什么才算得上是一个基督徒真正的成功？是我们的地位、权势，还是表现？《以弗所书》第6章揭示了答案：当我们靠主得力，并穿上神的全副军装时，就能得胜。无论我们在生活中扮演什么角色，都能站立得稳，因为我们的力量来自祂。

福音能改变生活的方方面面，而这一切始于家庭。在讲授了夫妻关系（以弗所书 5:22–33）之后，保罗将注意力转向了子女与父母。家庭是神彰显福音之美的主要场所之一。

(1) 父母与子女的关系

保罗首先向儿女发出命令：“你们作儿女的，要在主里听从父母，因为这是理所当然的。”（以弗所书 6:1）。顺服不仅是一种文化期望，更是神对家庭的安排。它是向主顺服的体现。当儿女在荣耀基督的事上听从父母时，他们便学会了谦卑、尊重神的权柄，并信靠祂的智慧。

保罗随后引用了第五条诫命：“要孝敬父母”（以弗所书 6:2）。虽然顺从在童年时期尤为重要，但孝敬父母却是终身的责任。成年子女或许不再生活在父母的管教之下，但他们仍被呼召要以爱、感恩、尊严和敬重来对待父母。神为这条诫命附上了应许：“使你得福，在世上享长寿”（以弗所书 6:3）。虽然这并非对每个人在世上繁荣昌盛或长寿的保证，但它反映了神对那些遵行祂道路之人的祝福。

保罗接着向父亲们发话，因为他们在家庭的属灵领导方面承担着主要责任。“你们作父亲的，不要激怒儿女，却要照着主的教训和劝戒，养育他们”（以弗所书 6:4）。父母必须避免过度严厉、前后不一、偏袒、忽视或那些会打击孩子信心的不合理要求。相反，他们应当以耐心的管教、充满爱的纠正，以及基于神话语的忠实教导来培育孩子。

基督徒的养育远不止于培养行为端正的孩子，而是要引导儿女归向耶稣基督。父母虽不能拯救自己的孩子，但他们被呼召要忠心地教导圣经，以真实的信心为榜样，为孩子祷告，并引导他们归向救主。一个以基督为中心的家庭，是真理与恩典并显的家庭，反映出我们天父的品格。

反思
如果你是孩子，要顺服并尊敬父母，以此来顺服基督。如果你是父母，要以爱、智慧和圣经的教导来养育子女，时刻引导他们归向福音。愿每一个基督徒家庭都成为一个尊崇基督、珍视祂的话语、并鼓励下一代认识并跟随祂的地方。

(2) 主人与仆人的关系

保罗首先提到仆人：“你们作仆人的，要存着敬畏、战兢和真诚的心，听从世上的主人，好像听从基督一样”（以弗所书 6:5）。保罗不仅谈论外在的行为，更关注内心的态度。基督徒的服事不应仅出于对人的认可、报酬或赞誉。信徒被呼召要诚心诚意地工作，因为他们的至高主人是基督。

保罗接着说：“作事不要只作给人看，像那些讨人欢心的一样，却要像基督的仆人，从心里遵行　神的旨意”（以弗所书 6:6）。只有在有人注视时才努力工作，这种诱惑是人之常情。然而，基督的追随者被呼召要活出正直。我们真正的观众不仅仅是我们的雇主、上司或同事。我们侍奉的主洞察人心，并会奖赏忠心。

保罗提醒信徒，每一个忠心事奉的举动在神眼中都至关重要：“你们知道，无论是奴仆或自由的人，如果作了什么善事，都必从主那里得到赏赐”（以弗所书 6:8）。为基督所做的任何顺服之举都绝非微不足道。即便是平凡的任务，只要怀着献身于神的心去完成，也会变得意义非凡。

随后，保罗对主人们说：“主人们，你们也要照样待他们，不要再威胁他们了”（以弗所书 6:9）。那些拥有权柄的人同样也处于权柄之下——即神自己的权柄之下。基督徒的领导地位绝不能成为骄傲、剥削或苛刻的借口。领袖必须以公义、尊严和怜悯对待他人，并时刻铭记，他们在天上有一位绝不偏待人的主。
以弗所书6:5–9的信息很明确：基督是每位信徒真正的主人。无论我们是服侍还是领导，都被呼召要彰显祂的品格。我们的价值并非来自职位、头衔或地位，而是源于属于基督。

反思
你工作只是为了获得人的认可，还是像事奉主一样去服侍？你是否利用权柄谋取私利，还是以谦卑和恩典来领导？无论神赐予你什么角色，都要在祂面前忠心而活。全心全意地服侍基督，因为祂看在眼里，祂知晓一切，祂正是那位最终要赏赐祂忠心仆人的主。

无论我们在生活中扮演什么角色——是子女还是父母，是雇员还是雇主，是丈夫还是妻子——我们都面临着同样的属灵争战。因此，他发出这样的命令：“要靠着主，倚赖他的大能大力，作刚强的人”（以弗所书 6:10）。基督徒的生活不能仅靠人的决心来维持。我们的力量来自上帝，他赋予他的子民力量，使他们能够坚定地抵挡魔鬼的诡计。

当我们“穿戴　神所赐的全副军装”（以弗所书 6:11）时，这胜利便成为每日的现实。神为我们预备了所需的一切军装：真理、公义、和平的福音、信心、救恩，以及圣灵的宝剑——就是神的道。保罗在结尾处敦促信徒要随时祷告，保持警醒，并在信仰上持守到底。

祷告
天父，感谢祢在基督里赐给我们一切所需。求祢教导我们，不要倚靠自己的力量，而是倚靠祢大能的大能。求祢帮助我们穿上神的全副军装，在信仰上站立得稳，并在祢所赋予我们的每一个角色和责任中荣耀祢。愿我们的生命彰显耶稣基督的胜利与恩典。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。