Sabbath, 7/09/05, 10:11 AM, USA EST
I knew about this verse for a very long time but never thought to post it on my website. Then I thought with all of the talk about the past that perhaps it should be made available to all.

Ephesians 6:5-9

5. Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
6. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
7. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,
8. because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
9. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him. ^*

^* = the NIV does not capitalize the personal pronoun "him" when the Bible is refering to our Lord, but I do.

Sabbath, 6/10/06, 9:59 AM EST USA
Genesis 17
12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.
13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.
23 On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him.

Leviticus 22:11
11 But if a priest buys a slave with money, or if a slave is born in his household, that slave may eat his food.

Proverbs 17:2
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

1 Corinthians 7:21-22
17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
. . .
20 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you�although if you can gain your freedom, do so.
22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave.
23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.

Matthew 20:25-28, and also Mark 10:42-45
25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave —
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."