The Way You Do Whatever You Do

God cares about everything you do. He wants what is best for you. He knows that when your words, attitudes, and actions are right, then you will experience the life He wants you to live.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Does every word that I say show that I am a follower of Christ? Do I represent Him well by my words? 
• Does every thing that I do show that I am a follower of Christ? Do I represent Him well by my actions? 
• Can I give thanks to God for all the things that I do? 
• Do I do everything enthusiastically, as if I were doing it for the Lord Himself? 

Hear these two important verses from the Bible. Read them. Think about them. Commit them to memory. These are the kinds of verses that can guide literally every decision you have to make in life. They can help you to decide the way you do whatever you do. 

Colossians 3:17 (HCSB)
¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:23 (HCSB)
²³ Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men,

In Colossians 3:12-17, we read about how every word that we say and every deed (action) that we do should be done in Jesus’ name. That phrase “in Jesus’ name” means that others should know that whatever we say would be just like the words Jesus would say. And every thing that we do would be just what Jesus would do.

Impossible you say? Yes, impossible in your own strength. But with Christ in you (see Colossians 1:27), you have the strength to honor Christ with your actions and to talk with a Christlike tongue. Christlikeness is the goal. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.

Read the following verses, and make a list of the ways to simply and powerfully live out your faith in word and deed.

Colossians 3:12-17 (HCSB)
¹² Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, ¹³ accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. ¹⁴ Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Notice in v12 that as Christ-followers we are called “God’s chosen ones,” those who are “holy and loved.” We don’t live for Christ to try to earn His favor. We live for Christ and talk like Christ because we are His children and He loves us!

Re-read verses 12-17 above. Pray to the Lord, asking Him to strengthen you to live your life in obedience to His Word.

The next section of Colossians teaches us about living for Christ at home and at work. Two important things to remember: 1) The instructions for Christlike living given in verses 12-17 apply in your home and at work also, and 2) the relationship between a first-century “master” and “slave” is best understood today as the relationship between an “employer” and “employee.” Remembering these two things will help you best understand these verses.

Colossians 3:18-4:1 (HCSB)
¹⁸ Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and don’t be bitter toward them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so they won’t become discouraged.

²² Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but ⌊work⌋ wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism. ¹ Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.

So what about it? Have you ever thought about the way you do whatever you do? Everything you do matters. Every word that you speak matters. Let’s make sure that every word we say and everything we do be done in Jesus’ name, be done with enthusiasm, and be done in such a way that we can thank God.

Let’s do things God’s way, because His way is the best!