BIBLE LESSON

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

— Colossians 3:17 Whatever you say or do, strive to please the Lord Jesus. Before saying or doing anything ask yourself, “Would Jesus be happy if I said and did this in His name? Will I faithfully represent Him and the kingdom of God before the world by saying and doing this?” If we completely loved and faithfully followed Jesus in every situation every day, including our thought life moment-by-moment, we would be sinless. Unhappily, we will not live perfectly until we meet Jesus face-to-face and live completely in His presence without the world, the flesh, and the devil to tempt us. Still, we could avoid many problems and actions that make people ashamed by striving to say and do only what would please Jesus. If we strive to obey Jesus in every situation, we will sin less, and we will grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Paul also wrote that we need to give thanks to God the Father for all we say and do that faithfully represents the truth about and the ways of Jesus. Even though we are not all we hope to be, we can glorify God when we say that by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus Christ we are not what we used to be. Christians give Jesus the credit for all their achievements. They know that God’s gifts have enabled them to achieve all their worthy goals. Christians can pray before they say or do anything, and afterward thank God the Father who enabled them to succeed in honoring Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

— L.G. Parkhurst Jr.