Year Two, November 6

Do Everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus1

Colossians 3:1-25; 4:1

1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

We are so completely changed by regeneration that we are dead to the old life. Our new life is in Jesus and we can no longer love the things of earth. Our heart is in heaven. Our life is where Jesus is, and until he returns we live a secret life that the world cannot recognize or understand.

5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. (To become a Christian is to begin a new life. New lives should have new clothes and new ways of living. The filthy rags of our old sinful living must never be allowed to dishonor and contaminate us now.) 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices (The heathen2 praise people for cleverly tricking others with their lies, but Christians abandon falsehood of every kind.) 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Delightful rule! How often it is forgotten! “Be thankful.”) 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus is the golden rule for all times, places, and actions. Life on earth would be like heaven below if this was always followed.

18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 4:1Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

We are free from the traditions of others, but we are under Christ’s law of love. Let each one of us follow the principle that governs our new life in Christ. May the Spirit of all grace make all of us patterns to follow. Whether as parents or children, employers or employees, teachers or students; let us live lives that honor God and bring him praise.

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¹ Colossians 3:17

² heathen - In its lightest sense, it simply means an unbeliever. It is often used as a synonym for pagan, infidel, idolater, heretic, skeptic, agnostic or atheist.