Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
In verse seventeen Paul wraps everything up with a broad but accurate general rule. All the information we have received about our union with Christ and the instruction we have received about our unity in Christ may be hard to remember “Put off……xyz” or “Put on…abc” but this last general rule of thumb for the Christian is like a memo note stuck in an often seen spot. Memorize this short instruction and it will be sure to keep you from many hurtful words and deeds and ensure unity with Him and his body.
“Whatsoever you do in word or deed” We know that we can do deeds, but our verse speaks of words like they have the same weight as actions. We know that the tongue is a small member, like the rutter of the boat, it can drive the ship to the docks or to the rocks. Remember in all your speaking that those words have the power to build or tear down, mend or rend, construct or destruct. We have seen churches, families, and relationships totally destroyed by words. It is no wonder words are equated to deeds in our verse today, many times a word can be as offensive and destructive as a slap to the face. So, whosoever you DO in word, do in the name of Jesus.
“Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” is a reminder whose name we bare. We are ambassador’s[2 Cor 5:20], meaning we represent him here on earth. Let this truth guide you, that whatever you do or say you are doing it in his name. The world we live in today has never seen Christ only you and me. Would Christ say that? Would Christ do that? Would Christ go there? Would Christ approve that, accept that, etc? That is the question we should ask ourselves from day to day. When I first studied this verse, it really lodged in my heart and throughout the day when a course word would come across my lips I was reminded “Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” It became harder to say things when this verse was hanging on the front door of my heart governing the words that went to my lips and the actions that went to my limbs. Let this rule be an attendant of our heart approving or disproving every word and every action. WWJD
“Giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” It is amazing to me that we have been seeing Union with Christ leads to communion in Christ and here in verse 17 we find the word Eucharisteo [“giving thanks”]. This is the climax of communion with Christ, thanksgiving. We have not been talking about the ordinance of communion but the unity we have with Christ but what a wonderful picture this ordinance is. When the Church comes together, searches herself, and gives thanks for the body that was broken for us and the blood that was shed for us, Communion with Christ and with each other! That is what Eucharist means “thanksgiving.” If the first part of verse seventeen were true of our lives, then the last part of verse seventeen would be also. Thanksgiving communion with Our God is the joy of a life that lives unto Christ, who puts off the old and puts on the new, who does and says everything to honor his Savior. Would you have communion with God? Then “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
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