"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."
– Colossians 3:17
Exposition:
It is far easier to control our actions than our attitude. Actually,
actions are the precursors to our attitude (thinking, planning, or conceiving).
One could avoid sinful actions but still sin in one’s heart. Likewise, we can
do a lot of good work, but with a bad attitude. We can even say or do godly
things with a sinful attitude of remonstrance, grumbling, or whispering. This
verse exhorts us to do everything in speech and action with an attitude of
thankfulness to God. Both action and attitude matter to God.
When we are thankful, we do not grumble or whisper, we are joyful. God
wants us to be joyous people. The root meaning of 'giving thanks' is
gratefulness. Gratefulness is a response to the grace of God. Since we have
received and built our life upon His grace, we are to be thankful people at all
times, in all places, and in all works. Thankfulness is a recurring theme in
this book of Colossians (1:3, 12; 2:7; 3:15, 17; 4:2). O How God wants us to be
thankful people!
All our thankfulness is always primarily to God the Father. It's not the
kind of thankfulness one has for somebody who helped him gain thing wrongfully.
It is the thankfulness that comes when doing the right things according to the
power of Jesus in our life. Would you recognise that the Sovereign God is your
Father–who has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus–when
you say and do all things for the edification of one another in the body of
Christ? When we recognise that, we will not only be faithful people but also be
thankful and joyful people.
Personal Reflection:
- I am commanded not only to do everything for the
glory of God (1Cor.10:31) but also to do everything, giving thanks to God.
Personal Commitment:
- To delight in any work of ministry knowing that every
work of ministry is a grace of God because even being called into the body
of Christ is grace.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Thank You for making me a
Christian, and for giving us a church. Thank You for this family.