Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Colossians 3:17
Every Moment Holy is a beautiful book of prayers for a variety of activities, including ordinary ones like preparing a meal or doing the laundry. Necessary tasks that can feel repetitive or mundane. The book reminded me of the words of author G. K. Chesterton, who wrote, “You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”
Such encouragement reorients my perspective on the activities of my day. Sometimes I’m inclined to divide my activities into ones that appear to have spiritual value, like reading devotions before a meal, and other activities I think have little spiritual value, such as doing the dishes after the meal. Paul erased that divide in a letter to the people of Colossae who had chosen to live for Jesus. He encouraged them with these words: “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (3:17). Doing things in Jesus’ name means both honoring Him as we do them and having the assurance that His Spirit helps strengthen us to accomplish them.
“Whatever you do.” All the ordinary activities of our lives, every moment, can be empowered by God’s Spirit and done in a way that honors Jesus.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
INSIGHT
- How might you reconsider your perspective on everyday activities?
- How can you rely on God’s Spirit for the tasks of your day?
In ancient Greek, the word order of a sentence helped the reader understand its emphasis. In Colossians 3:12, the first word in the original language is the verb endysasthe, which is translated “clothe.” This puts the emphasis on the action of putting on these virtues rather than on our identity as “God’s chosen people.”
The use of the verb clothe to describe Christian virtues is also significant. Clothes are the outer layer that others see. In the same way, “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” are to be the “apparel” people see when they look at us. We put on these things to demonstrate that we’re “holy and dearly loved” (v. 12).
PRAYER
Dear Jesus, empower me by Your Spirit to honor You today in all I do. In Your name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: COLOSSIANS 3:12-17 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: PSALMS 13-15; ACTS 19:21-41
