“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17). Paul was speaking to the church at Colossae, one that was struggling with false teachers, and he wants them to know that Christ is the goal of our efforts, not man. Too often, we lose sight of what is important, and when that happens, we tend to concentrate on ourselves or other men instead of God.
The words of Paul are a powerful reminder for us as followers of Christ who dedicate our lives completely to Him. If we are servants of Christ, we should do everything to honor and glorify Him. It is crucial for us to realize exactly what our responsibility toward God is, especially in terms of how we represent him. Essentially, we are ambassadors for the Gospel, and whatever we do will reflect that. 1 Cor. 10:31 has something similar to say, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Every aspect of our lives, even mundane things like eating or drinking, should be considered an opportunity to glorify God.
Every thought, word, or action should be transformed into an act of worship. If we are what Rom. 12:1 says we are, and we know we are because we don’t dispute the Word, then we must do everything as if He were watching (and we know He is). Rom. 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” We cannot be holy and acceptable to God if we give Him lip service and then act any way we want. You see, if it is not in the name of Jesus, then who is it in the name of? When we work for a company, we are expected to honor it with our best efforts, so why would we think it is different for Christianity? Think of this – if we fail to give our best for the company we work for, we may get fired, but if we fail to give our best to Christ, the consequences could be much, much worse.
When we dedicate all things to Christ, we will be far less likely to fall into the trap of sin. Let’s take crude language, for example – if our speech honors Christ, what are the chances that we will cuss or tell crude jokes? Hopefully zero. If we are in a personal relationship with Christ, our loyalty should be evidenced by our conduct. How could we honor the Savior if everything we do is done in the name of the world (devil)? Who you do everything to is indicative of who you serve – Matt. 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
The other thing Paul mentions is thankfulness. Similar words are used by the same author in Eph. 5:20, “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Both verses want us to cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving in all circumstances. When we recognize that everything we have comes from God’s hand, we develop a heart of gratitude that shapes our perspective and transforms our actions. Giving thanks to God in the name of Jesus allows us to acknowledge His goodness, faithfulness, and provision, even in the midst of challenges. Interestingly, a heart of thankfulness will, in turn, strengthen the reasoning to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. When we realize He is the provider of all that is good, we will be much more apt to follow him obediently and receive even more blessings from above. Ensure that every conscious moment is Christ’s, and all the rest will automatically fall into place.
Leave a Reply