April 9, 2025 - Colossians 3:17 - "Whatsoever Ye Do"

Colossians 3:17

"And whatever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

This verse lays before us a simple yet sweeping command: “Whatsoever ye do…” That covers the whole of life. Every word that leaves our lips and every deed performed by our hands as the children of God are to be done “in the name of the Lord Jesus.” That means under His authority, by His merit, and for His glory.

This is not a call to legalism, but the fruit of grace. It is not the voice of Sinai, demanding that we do so that we be. Rather, it is the voice of Calvary, declaring that since we are in Christ, therefore we do. We who have been sovereignly called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9) have been united to Christ. We are not our own but have been bought with a price, redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb (1 Corinthians 6:19). And now, because we are in Him, our lives are not defined by our own will but by the will of our Savior who has saved us and called us to Himself.

Paul says, “whatsoever ye do…do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” He's not just talking about spiritual matters such as reading the scriptures, witnessing, or praying. To do all in the name of the LORD Jesus, whether it involves what we do at work, driving down the road, or conversation with neighbors., Whatever it is, from washing dishes to preparing meals, from raising children to running errands. It all becomes a sacred act of worship because all the power, energy, and talent come from Christ. He is the Vine, and all the strength of the branches to bear fruit is in the Vine (John 15:1).

It is not the greatness of the task, but the glory of the Master, that gives meaning to the moment. And how do we do it? “Giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Gratitude and giving glory to the LORD in all things is the heartbeat of the grace of God. The person who knows that they have been chosen before time, redeemed by blood, called by the Spirit, and preserved by power lives in thanksgiving. Not just with words, but with a life of gratefulness to the LORD. As the apostle Paul declared: "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:12,13)

Oh! How often we fall short! But our hope is not in our performance—it is in the perfection we enjoy in Christ Jesus and His accomplished work on our behalf. He did all in the name of the Father. He fulfilled all righteousness. And now, clothed in His obedience, we are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6). Therefore, we go forward—not to earn His favor, but because we have it. Therefore, not only today, but every day, whether we speak or act, we remember this: We are Christ's, by God's grace. As a vessel of God's mercy, we live as someone who has been loved with everlasting love, and purchased by the greatest price that could ever be paid, Christ's shed blood unto death. And in all we do, let it be for Him, through Him, and unto Him—with thanksgiving in the heart.

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11)