Whatever You do, do for Christ

Rick Terletzky
1 day ago
3 min read

Colossians 3

[15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. [17] 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.

As Paul calls for the Church to be united in the peace of Christ found in a union with Jesus in His death and resurrection, he closes this section of his letter by summarizing the importance of how this can be achieved. It won’t come from our determination or a set of new policies formed out of Paul’s lists that the Church upholds. We will find the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts when we let the Word take up residency in us.

Dwell

The Greek word Paul uses for “dwell” means to intensify within. The Word of God needs to influence and alter more and more of our thoughts, decisions, and desires. Like applying an excessive amount of salt onto our meal, scripture richly produces flavor to our palate. The Bible is not present in the Christian faith as a religious artifact but brings us into the truth of God. It teaches us wisdom so that we can teach and speak to each other wisely. It grows an attitude of deep thankfulness in our hearts so that we can praise God and, in doing so, encourage one another. It all leads to even more thankfulness.

Do Everything

This is why Paul encompasses all aspects of our life in “do everything”. Jesus desires complete union with His Bride, not just for Him but for our sake. He desires us to experience the full richness of every action and word we can speak; the fullness of peace in every aspect of what our life can be. To live in a thankfulness that comes from living out His Word.

InHis Name For us to do everything in the “name of the Lord” is not a call to constantly cite Jesus’ name as a form of credit at the end of everything we do. Paul is referring to us living as ambassadors. Someone who represents the words and decrees of their King. As a king would declare, with his spoken word, the rule and manner of his Kingdom, an ambassador would be one who brings news of the truth of the king’s word to all near and far. So we, Christ’s Church, should be one that knows the Word well. Not just in word or in deed, but both.

For the manner of the Kingdom, we are called to share with others. We are called to bring the good news that comes from our King, a peace that leads to thankfulness from our union with Christ.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20