Do you ever feel worn out or maybe even annoyed with the everyday tasks? Or maybe you catch yourself doing the correct things but with the intent to please those around you rather than please your Father?
I was reading through Colossians 3 the other day, and let me tell you, this chapter is jam packed full of really awesome things. As I was reading and highlighting, I was nodding my head in agreement with every other thing I read. But one of the verses that really grabbed my attention was verse 17.
“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
(Colossians 3:17, CSB)
Whatever you do.
Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Giving thanks to God.
I think sometimes we as Christians can get caught up in doing the right things but with the wrong motivations. Whether this means serving in exchange for recognition, or even just knowing the right thing to do so we do it even though our hearts are not in the right place.
I know that I am guilty of this. I love serving people. But I have caught myself doing it more to please people than to please my Jesus. And if you are familiar with the enneagram, I am a very large mix of both the 2 (server) and the 9 (peacemaker). The 2 in me sometimes fails to recognize my own needs and then I end up feeling worn out as I tend to place myself on the back burner while aiming to serve people.
If we do the right things with the wrong motivations, it will leave us feeling depleted and unfulfilled. If we do the right things because of our hearts for Jesus and to bring Him honor, we will have a sense of fulfillment and joy in what we do.
If you jump down a few verses, Paul touches a little on pleasing people.
“Don’t work only while being watched as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.”
(Colossians 3:22b-24, CSB)
In everything we do, we do it all for the name of Jesus. The things we do and the way we live should reflect Christ and draw others into a relationship with Him.
The last part of verse 17 says that we should give thanks to God in everything. When I read this, my mind immediately went to the things that I do on the daily that I tend to complain about. Things like washing dishes, filling our tanks to save water, doing the laundry, cooking, cleaning my haiy floor (from my dog of course).
As I reflected on what my response has been to doing these things, I realized that these seemingly unending chores are actually little blessings. We have dishes to eat off of, plenty of clothes, water to clean everything, food to fill our bellies, and a hairy Bruno Bear that brings us a lot of laughter and kisses.. Now as I am doing these tasks, I am constantly trying to remind myself of this verse and verbally thank Jesus for whatever I am doing at that moment. I have noticed that as I stop what I am doing and take a second to say “thank you Lord,” it truly does make a difference in my attitude.
In all we do, whether is thought, speech, or action…we do to bring glory to the name of Jesus. One of my new mottos (which I have so many now hehe) is: “I want to honor Christ in private and in public.” As disciples of Christ, our main motivation is to honor Him whether we have 100 eyes watching or not even one. And in all we do, we give thanks to the Father.
Journey to Dominican 