“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)
It’s absolutely vital that as believers, we stay focused on the goal of being witnesses for Christ so that other might come to know Him. Yesterday we talked about one way we can be a strong witness. Let’s look at two more ways right now.
First, to be a witness for the Lord, we must let the proclamation of Christ saturate our community. God’s Word is to be our guide for what we believe, what we teach, and what we live. If there is any place where the Word of God ought to be at home and welcomed, it is in the true New Testament church. What is true of the church is true of the Christian. You ought to make the Word of God feel at home in your heart every day. The Word of God cannot dwell in you until it gets into you.
Nobody will ever feel at home in your house until they are first allowed into your house. That is why every Christian should read God’s word every day. I am going to say this as strongly as I can. There is something wrong with someone who claims to be a follower of Jesus, but never takes the time to read the words of Jesus, never takes the time to hear the voice of Jesus, never takes the time to learn the teachings of Jesus.
One more thing we can do to be an effective witness for Christ is to let the praise of Christ dominate our conduct. Paul wraps up his charge with this simple statement. “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). What does it mean to do everything and to say everything in the name of Jesus?
It is not just a tag on something you say. It just means you speak his name out loud. It means that whatever you say and whatever you do should always line up with the character of Jesus. A person’s name and a person’s character are always linked together. So if we are linked to Christ, His praise should always be evident in us.
Dear Father, I want nothing more than to be an effective witness for your kingdom. I pray that your Word would saturate my community and that your praise would dominate my conduct. May others know how great you are as I praise and glorify you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Topics: Praise
