Promise:
How you do anything is how you should do everything.
Passage:
The third chapter of Colossians covers a lot of ground. It talks about a variety of human relationship and relational virtues that we should be displaying in our lives (gratitude, unity, love) and right in the center is this reminder that whatever we talk about or act upon, we should doing it all out of reverence for and thankfulness to God.
Colossians 3:17:
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
In a different letter to the Corinthian church talking about a controversy regarding meat sacrificed to idols, Paul writes “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31). He was essentially saying that our actions, even mundane actions, should reflect God in our lives.
As you think about your own situation, remember that whatever you say, do, or chose, it should reflect God’s glory and our gratitude. Even in times of stress or frustration, choosing your words and actions are important. If you are showing up for work (subject to the priorities of another), picking food for your own consumption, or spending time diligently on a job search, you can do all of those things as if working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23).
And finally, assuming the work you did before and the work you will do after your time of transition is over will be “working for the Lord,” and the time you spend in your job search has the same gratitude and diligence, then it is all the Lord’s work. Employed or unemployed. It’s service to the same God. You are the same you. It is just a different assignment. How you do anything is how you should do everything for the glory of God.
Practice:
Read the following three times, focusing on the meaning of each word.
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
Pause:
Write your response below to the question: What would it mean, right now, for me to choose words and actions that honor Jesus and show gratitude? How can I practice that today?
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