Whatever You Do…

Everything you do matters. The big things. The little things. Everything.

Colossians 3:12-17
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.

God’s Chosen Ones…

Colossians chapter three, verses twelve through fifteen, give us five great truths about who we are in Christ. These realities help us to know who we are, and therefore impact everything we do. We are:

• chosen by God (v12)
• holy (v12)
• loved (v12)
• forgiven (v13)
• called (v15)

Because God has chosen you (think about it — He chose you for His team!), called you to be one of His children, forgave you of your sin, filled you with His love, and made you holy, He has forever changed what you do.

Put on…

With God’s help, you can put on the attitudes, words and behaviors that most honor the Lord; the attitudes, words and behaviors that are best for you and the best for others you interact with on a daily basis. Following Christ is not just about what you don’t do; following Christ is about what you do in your daily life. As a follower of Christ, put on…

• compassion (v12)
• kindness (v12)
• humility (v12)
• gentleness (v12)
• patience (v12)
• acceptance (v13)
• forgiveness (v13)
• love (v14)
• peace (v15)
• thankfulness (v15)

When you put on these character traits, you will realize that you are becoming more and more like Christ. Jesus was the perfect example of all of these. As one of His chosen ones, you can put these on!

Dwell on…

What should you dwell on regularly? Your problems? Your shortcomings? The shortcomings of others? Other negative stuff? How about, let’s dwell on Christ! How?

• Let the message of Christ dwell richly among you all (v15) — this happens as you spend time with Him alone, and when you spend time with another believer, with your small group, and in worship services
• Teaching and admonishing one another (v15) — this is what we do when we get together: we teach each other the way of Christ!
• Singing all sorts of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (v15) — no matter how new or old the song may be, no matter the style you prefer, there are all sorts of songs that honor the Lord, that help you to dwell on Christ and worship Him
• With gratitude in your heart to God (v15)

Whatever you do…

So, whatever you do — whether you are working, relaxing, talking, listening, eating, drinking, exercising, shopping, whatever you do! —  in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus (meaning, do it in a way that honors Him), giving thanks to God the Father through Him.