Friday, May 15 — Whatever You Do
Most of us aren't going to be famous Christians. We're going to be ordinary ones — at the desk, at the register, at the school pickup line. Paul says that's exactly the point.
Colossians 3:12-17 — KJV 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 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.
Colossians 3:12-17 — WEB 12 Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. 14 Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord. 17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
Colossians was written by Paul (likely from prison) to a small church in Colossae, a town in modern-day Turkey he had never visited. False teaching had crept in, and Paul writes to anchor them in Christ — and then in chapter 3, he gets practical. Verses 12-17 are some of the most concrete instructions in the New Testament about how Christians ought to act in everyday relationships.
Paul says: put on. Like clothing. Every morning. Compassion. Kindness. Humility. Gentleness. Patience. Bear with each other when you're getting on each other's nerves. Forgive grievances the way Christ forgave you — which means more often than is comfortable, and more freely than makes sense. Above all, put on love. It is the belt that holds the whole outfit together. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Let the word of Christ live in you. Teach. Sing. Be thankful.
Then comes verse 17 — the line that holds the whole industrial week together: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Whatever. You. Do.
Not just preaching. Not just praying. Not just the Sunday parts of life. The Monday parts. The Tuesday morning meetings. The Wednesday lunch break. The Thursday inspection. The Friday afternoon when you'd rather just go home. The diaper changes. The driving. The dishes. The data entry. The customer service. The construction site. The classroom. The hospital floor. The kitchen.
Sunday's lesson is "The Christian Spirit in Industry," and Paul is laying out what that spirit actually looks like in a body. It isn't a halo. It's a posture. It's how you treat your coworker when you've already explained that thing twice. It's how you talk to the cashier on a hard day. It's how you handle the customer who is being unfair. It's the integrity you carry into the meeting where no one is checking. It's the kindness you bring home after a thankless shift. It's the gratitude you stitch into ordinary moments before they slip past.
Some weeks the world will not notice. But heaven does. And whatever you do — whatever — you do in His name.
Thought for the Day Whatever you do today, do it in His name.
Reflection What ordinary task today can you carry into the name of Jesus?
Prayer Lord Jesus, take all of it — the meaningful work and the mundane, the praised and the unseen. Clothe me in the patience and kindness I do not naturally have. Help me forgive freely and love deeply. Whatever I do today, in word or deed, let it be done in Your name. Amen.
This week we walk toward Sunday's lesson: The Christian Spirit in Industry.