Living For The Savior

For the past few days we’ve been conducting some “exploratory heart surgery” as we’ve studied the character of the new Christian in Colossians 3:15-17. From these verses we have noted two actions of Christians with new hearts:

We Learn to end Strife (verse 15)
and,
We Love the Scriptures (verse 16)

Today’s post focuses on the culminating action given in verse 17:

We Live for the Savior 

Verse 17 is both a summary verse and transitional verse.  It sums up the content that precedes it (verses 1ff) and serves as a fitting segue to what follows it (verses 18ff).  It’s also a really good memory verse:

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (verse 17)

To do all “in the name of the Lord Jesus” highlights the truth that Christians live for the Savior and are His ambassadors everywhere they go, acting on His behalf and living their lives to bring honor and glory to Him.  

People are watching us and their impressions of Christ are drawn largely from what they observe.

Whatever you do—whatever!!  Paul’s not talking only about so-called “religious activities” that take place in the local church. He says, “Whatever you do in word or deed.”  

Any and every act we do qualifies as that which may be done “in the name of the Lord.”  Even the most “trivial” tasks can be considered acts of worship when we intentionally live our lives for Christ.

I read once where Billy Graham’s wife, Ruth Graham, used to have a sign above her kitchen sink that read: “Divine services held here three times a day!” 

Yes, even washing dishes can be done in the name of the Lord as an act of worship.

Schoolwork can be an act of worship when students pray before study, during study, and not just praying during the test!  

This verse (Colossians 3:17) is similar to another verse just six verses later where Paul writes: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23).

When God gives new hearts we learn to end strife, we love the Scriptures, and we live for the Savior.  

Put another way:

Strife is Nullified
The Scriptures are Internalized
The Savior is Glorified.

And note for the third and final time the recurring theme of gratitude at the end of verse 17:

“…Giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” 

Gratitude is found in those who have been given new hearts.

I once heard about two little girls who were misbehaving during Thanksgiving dinner.  They had been acting badly throughout the evening so their Father sent them to their room to punish them.

The two girls got up from the table dejectedly and walked upstairs to their room, saddened that their punishment meant leaving the table to go be alone for the rest of the evening.

But after a short while, the girls’ mother called upstairs: “Girls!  Come downstairs to dinner.”  The girls were surprised by the invitation back to the table.  They slowly came down the stairs and tiptoed into the dinning room where their mother invited them to sit back down at the table to finish eating their Thanksgiving dinner.  

As they slowly found their places, they noted that their father was not present.  After some hesitation, one of them asked, “Where’s father?”  

Their mother replied:

“Your father loves you.  He wanted his punishment of you to stand, but also wanted you to enjoy the blessings of all that he has provided for you.  So he went to his room to pay your price for misbehaving.”  

Is this not a small picture of what God has done for us in Christ?  We were once “misbehaving” and “acting badly” because we are sinners. And because God is just, He must deal with our sinful actions.  He must punish us.  

But the beauty of God’s actions is seen in His taking the punishment upon Himself, and paying our price for sin.  In Christ Jesus, God takes our punishment and deals with it Himself, so that we can “sit down at His table” and enjoy all that He has provided for us.

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

What About You?

• How can you “glorify God” in the smallest of tasks?
• In what way does this verse indicate that the Christian life is more about what happens Monday through Saturday than what happens on Sunday?
• Do you regularly “give thanks” to God throughout the day?