Live for the Lord
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 (CSB)
William J. Toms is credited with saying, “Be careful how you live; you may be the only Bible some people will ever read.” This quote is often used by believers to remind each other that we must live our lives for the Lord and in the name of Christ in all we do. In Colossians 3:17, the apostle Paul echoes this truth, urging believers to recognize that every word and action should reflect and reveal Jesus.
Nothing in Life is Truly Neutral. If Christ is genuinely the Lord of our lives, then nothing within us can be considered neutral. Living in neutral means trying to keep Christ out of certain areas and refusing to recognize the eternal importance of our actions. To live for Jesus is to surrender completely to Him. We aim to ensure that every conversation, meeting, email, text, song, decision, social media post, and response points to Jesus. Living in neutral actually results in not reflecting or representing Jesus. Therefore, we must surrender ourselves and submit to Jesus's leadership, guidance, and control.
Represent Christ. We must live in a way that represents Christ. Our goal is to demonstrate Christ's love through our interactions with others. When others do not understand the reason for our love during difficult times, we can point them to Christ and share God's love. Living as representatives of Christ also means embodying the principles of God’s Word and His kingdom. We align our lives with the expectations of our true and genuine citizenship. By living to represent Christ, we aim to bring light into a world overshadowed by darkness.
Key Principles for Living for the Lord. There are many essential aspects of living in a way that honors Jesus. Let’s briefly consider three of them. First, we need to let Christ govern all aspects of our life and combat the tendency to compartmentalize our faith. We should be fully surrendered to the Lord, ensuring He has control over everything. Second, we must not mistake sincerity for submission to Christ. Being sincere doesn’t automatically mean our actions are aligned with the Lord; true living requires total submission. Third, we should aim to show our gratitude for Christ in every action. When others see our joy and thankfulness, they will be drawn to the source, which is Jesus.
QUESTIONS
Are you ngenuinely doing everything in the name of Jesus?
Are you attaching Jesus’ name to YOUR actions or are you allowing your actions to flow from Jesus?
